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The number and some other characteristics of isolated human ventricular cardiomyocytes under pathological conditions
1L.A. Oganesian Institute of Cardiology, Yerevan, USSR.
Insights
Researchers isolated human ventricular cardiomyocytes to study their number, volume, and ploidy. Increased heart muscle mass correlated with larger cell volume and fewer cells, impacting cardiomyocyte characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cell Biology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Human ventricular cardiomyocytes are crucial for cardiac function.
- Understanding cardiomyocyte characteristics is vital for studying heart disease.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the relationship between cardiomyocyte number, volume, and ploidy in the human ventricle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the absolute number and mean volume of human ventricular cardiomyocytes.
- To determine the proportion of polynuclear cardiomyocytes (predominantly binucleated).
- To investigate the correlation between myocardial mass, cardiomyocyte number, volume, and ploidy.
Main Methods:
- Modified alkalic dissociation method for isolating ventricular cardiomyocytes.
- Cell counting using a Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber.
- Measurement of cardiomyocyte volume.
- Assessment of polynuclear cell content.
Main Results:
- Absolute cardiomyocyte numbers varied significantly between left and right ventricles, influenced by myocardial mass.
- Mean cell volume ranged from 75 x 10(3) to 344 x 10(3) microns3.
- Polynuclear cardiomyocytes constituted 14% to 49% of the cell population.
- Increased ventricular myocardium mass correlated with increased cardiomyocyte volume.
- A negative correlation was observed between cardiomyocyte number and their mean volume and proportion of polynuclear cells.
Conclusions:
- Human ventricular cardiomyocyte number, volume, and ploidy are significantly influenced by myocardial mass.
- These findings provide quantitative data on cardiomyocyte characteristics in the human heart.
- The observed correlations suggest adaptive mechanisms in response to changes in cardiac workload or pathology.
Abstract:
Using a modified method for alkalic dissociation, isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes were obtained from eight patients who had died of different diseases. The absolute number of cardiomyocytes, counted in the Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber, ranged between 1.10 x 10(9) and 3.25 x 10(9) in the left ventricle, and between 0.58 x 10(9) and 1.42 x 10(9) in the right ventricle depending on myocardial mass. Mean volume of cells ranged between 75 x 10(3) and 344 x 10(3) microns3, and the content of polynuclear, predominantly binucleated, cardiomyocytes amounted to 14 to 49%. An increase in ventricular myocardium mass was associated with an increase in cardiomyocyte volume. A negative correlation was demonstrated between the absolute number of cardiomyocytes on the one hand, and their mean volume and proportion of polynuclear cells on the other.