To understand the structural changes of the myocardial myocytes and endothelial cells in ischemic and reperfused heart, and to elucidate their roles in those conditions, the authors observed cat and rat myocardium ultrastructurally and evaluated them with morphometric techniques. In cat, mild ischemia and moderate degree reperfusion injury was induced by ligation of the anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery and reperfusion. In rat, severe ischemia and irreversible reperfusion injury was made using in vitro Langendorff techniques.
In normal cat myocytes, the volume densities of cytoplasm, myofibrils, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum and T tubules were 0.11±0.013, 0.51±0.096, 0.25±0.082, 0.09±0.008, 0.02± 0.010 (Mean±S.D.) respectively, and the myofibril/mitochondria ratio was 2.33±1.379. The numerical density and average volume of mitochondria were 0.76±0.210/?m3 and 0.33±0.057 ,?m1 respectively. In normal cat endothelial cells, the volume densities of cytoplasm, cytoplasmic vesicles, tubular systems (including endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus) and mitochondria were 0.43±0.023, 0.28±0.007, 0.22±0.021, 0.03±0.014 respectively. The mean thickness of endothelial cells was 230±45.2 ?m. The numerical density and average volume of cytoplasmic vesicles were 508±55.0/?m3, 578±104.8 nm3 respectively.
In cat myocytes which received mild ischemic injury, the volume densities of organelles were not changed significantly in ischemic and reperfusion states. In reperfusion group myocytes, the numerical density of mitochondria was decreased significantly and the average volume was increased significantly. In endothelial cells, the volume density of tubular system in ischemic group and the average volume of cytoplasmic vesicles in reperfusion group were increased significantly.
In rat myocytes which received severe ischemic injury, the volume density and average volume of mitochondria were increased significantly, and the volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum and numerical density of mitochondria were decreased significantly in both ischemic and reperfusion groups. In ischemic and reperfused endothelial cells, the volume density and numerical density of cytoplasmic vesicles, the volume density of cytoplasm were decreased significantly. The volume densities of tubular
system were increased significantly in both ischemic and reperfused groups. The volume density of mitochondria in ischemic group and the average volume of cytoplasmic vesicles in reperfusion group showed significant increase.
The authors, based on the above observations, conclude that the mitochondria of myocytes and the cytoplasmic vesicles of endothelia are the first group of targets in ischemic and reperfusion injury and in this respect, the degree of ischemic insult is not significant. The role of myocyte mitochondria in reperfusion injury may be insignificant, but endothelial cells may contribute actively to reperfusion injury.
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