Objective. The purpose of the study was to build up an animal model of mitochondrial myopathy in order to analyse the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods. The skeletal muscles from Wistar rats treated with germanium dioxide for 24 weeks were analysed by histopathologic and electron- microscopic studies. A quantitative analysis was carried out in mitochondrial DNAs of these samples. The biological function of the model was determined. Results. An animal model of mitochondrial myopathy was built up

in which oxygen free radicals were increased and mitochondrial DNA copies were decreased contrasted with controls. Conclusion. It suggested that environmental toxin may play a role in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial myopathy. The increase of oxygen free radicals is an important link causing the disease.