Dense core mitochondria in peripheral ganglia of man.

Neuronal perikarye of peripheral ganglia contained unusual dense core mitochondria that were not seen in other cell types or tissues of the same individual. They were found in several patients autopsied with GM1-gangliosidosis and neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. Previous observations on human sympathetic ganglia, obtained by biopsy, and our findings suggest that these dense core mitochondria might represent a rare but regular feature of neuronal perikarya in peripheral ganglia of man.