Local degenerative changes in the drum muscles of piranhas (serrasalminae, characidae).

In the posterior drum muscle of the piranha structural alterations are frequently observed. Electron microscopic studies revealed a disordering of the myofibrils in these regions, accompanied by conspicuous changes in the mitochondria. As the degree of disorder increases, the mitochondrial cristae initially swell to form vesicles. Eventually the mitochondria become filled with myelin-like lamellar structures, which in many cases coalesce to form a dense outer wall. A striking concentration of lysosomes into localized masses was also characteristic of these regions.