Ageing is likely a multifactorial process caused by accumulated damage to a variety of cellular components. Increasing age in mammals correlates with increased levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and deteriorating respiratory chain function. Mosaic respiratory chain deficiency in a subset of cells in various tissues, such as heart, skeletal muscle, colonic crypts and neurons, is typically found in aged humans. Experimental evidence in the mouse has linked increased levels of somatic mtDNA mutations to a variety of ageing phenotypes, such as osteoporosis, hair loss, greying of the hair, weight reduction and decreased fertility. It has been known for a long time that respiratory chain-deficient cells are more prone to undergo apoptosis and increased cell loss is therefore likely of importance in age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction. There is a tendency to automatically link mitochondrial dysfunction to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the experimental support for this concept is rather weak. Mouse models with respiratory chain deficiency induced by tissue-specific mtDNA depletion or by massive increase of point mutations in mtDNA have very minor or no increase of oxidative stress. Future studies are needed to address the relative importance of mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS in mammalian ageing.