Figure 20.

Aberrant mitochondria (aMt) were present in the 12-week-old male insulin resistant, impaired glucose tolerant, and hypertensive Ren2 rat model as compared to the Sprague Dawley controls (SDCs) in the descending thoracic aorta. Panel A demonstrates the normal morphology of the media vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and note the normal appearance of the highly electron-dense mitochondria (Mt). Panel B depicts the hyperlucent aberrant Mt with loss of cristae and loss of the electron-dense Mt matrix (with some aMt pseudo-colored yellow with red outlines) in the Ren2 as compared to the SDC in panel A. These images are provided by permission from reference [66]. Magnification ×2500; scale bar = 0.5 μm. N = nucleus.