MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA IN PLATELETS FROM AGED SUBJECTS

This study aimed to assess platelets as a possible model for screening the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations, particularly during normal ageing. For this purpose we isolated platelets from young and o ld donors selected by lack of systemic and haematological diseases. We studied the accumulation of a particular deletion (4977-bp deletion) that usually accumulates in an age-related manner in different post-mi totic tissues, such as brain, heart and skeletal muscle, and in some n on-post-mitotic tissues (skin, liver). Using different primers, we fai led to detect this particular species of deletion in platelets both fr om young and old individuals. However, we cannot exclude the presence of other species of deletions or point mutations affecting the mitocho ndrial DNA in platelets during the aging process. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.