Cytochrome c oxidase deficient cells accumulate in the hippocampus and choroid plexus with age

The chronological accumulation of mitochondrial dysfunction has been proposed as a potential mechanism in the physiological processes of aging. Cytochrome c oxidase deficient, succinate dehydrogenase positive muscle fibers containing high copy numbers of a mitochondrial DNA mutation are a pathological hallmark of mitochondrial DNA disorders. We show that there is an age-related increase in cytochrome c oxidase-deficient cells in both hippocampal pyramidal neurons and choroid plexus epithelial cells. We suggest that these cells contribute to the cell death and dysfunction in CNS aging. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.