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Cardiac morphodynamic remodelling in the growing eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)
M C Cerra1, S Imbrogno, D Amelio
1Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Calabria, 87030 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy. cerramc@unical.it
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|July 6, 2004
Summary
Cardiac remodeling in growing eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) shows larger eels have structurally different hearts. These hearts maintain better performance under increased afterload, indicating adaptive changes during growth.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Eel Biology
Background:
- The eel heart (Anguilla anguilla L.) undergoes changes during growth.
- Understanding these cardiac adaptations is crucial for fish physiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphodynamic changes in eel hearts during growth.
- To compare the cardiac performance and ventricular structure of small and large eels.
Main Methods:
- In vitro working heart preparation to assess cardiac output, heart rate, and stroke volume.
- Light and transmission electron microscopy for morphometric analysis of ventricular structure.
- Comparison of cardiac performance under basal, preload, and afterload conditions.
Main Results:
- Larger eels exhibited higher basal cardiac output (heart rate and stroke volume) than smaller eels.
- Both small and large eel hearts responded similarly to increased preload.
- Large eel hearts maintained stroke volume at higher afterloads compared to small eel hearts, which showed decreased stroke volume above 3 kPa.
- Structural analysis revealed increased compacta thickness, larger trabeculae diameter, reduced lacunary spaces, and altered myocyte characteristics in larger eels.
Conclusions:
- Growing eels exhibit significant cardiac morphodynamic remodeling.
- These structural adaptations enhance cardiac mechanical performance, particularly under increased afterload, in larger eels.
