Investigation of mitochondrial metabolism in small human skeletal muscle biopsy specimens. Improvement of preparation procedure.

A method is presented which allows the investigation of almost the complete mitochondrial content of small human skeletal muscle biopsy specimens. Thorough mechanical disruption with a chopper apparatus results in the release of about 50% of the mitochondrial content. Subsequent treatment of the 600 x g sediment with trypsin releases another 30% of the total mitochondrial population. The biochemical characteristics of the two mitochondrial fractions obtained in these two successive steps have been compared. No obvious differences could be established. The procedure is well suited for biochemical investigation of muscle biopsy specimens from patients suspected of suffering from a mitochondrial myopathy.