Stereology analysis of the endoplasmic reticulum binding mitochondria in rat liver cell

Objective To study a structural association between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Methods The endoplasmic reticulum binding mitochondria in rat liver cell was observed in EM by serial ultrathin sections.And volume densities of mitochondria,endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles in the liver cell were measured on the photographs. Results Almost every mitochondria functions under the surrounding of endoplasmic reticulum(SER and RER),which seemed at place to form a cap around the mitochondrion.The stereological analysis showed that 32% of SER and 26%of RER (volume density) directly surrounded mitochondria. Conclusion The mitochondria were binded with endoplasmic reticulum(SER and RER) when they took action in liver cells.Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are a unity of structure and function.