[Role of the changes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum in disorders of myocardial function]

Acute focal ischemia of the myocardium, acute hemodynamic overloading of the heart, coarctation of the aorta, and fibrillation of the heart were simulated on rabbits. The animals were studied for the contractile function of the myocardium, and potential work capacity of the heart was calculated according to a special formula. The rebbits were sacrificed at the acute period of the development of a pathological process, and the contractile myocardium was investigated by electron microscope. The studies of the bioelectric activity of the heart revealed periodically appearing disorders of the cardiac rhythm. The electron-microscopy investigation showed, apart from changes in the ultrastructure of cells of the contractile myocardium reflecting their hyperfunction, marked dilatation of small canals of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, right to the formation of cisterns containing sequesters of cells. It is established that the changes referred to above in the sarcotubular system were associated with potassium dysbalance. The conclusion was drawn that the above said changes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum was a stereotype reaction of the alterative heart at the level of ultrastructures developing according to the principle of a vicious circle.