[The ratio in the DNA content and protein mass of human cardiomyocytes]

DNA and total protein content were measured in human cardiac myocytes using cytophotometry of Feulgen-naphthol yellow stained cells isolated from the left ventricle. The percentage of DNA classes was 2%, 32%, 53%, 12% and less than 0.5% for diploids, tetraploids (both 4c and 2c X 2), octaploids (8c, 4c X 2 and 2c X 4), hexadecaploids (16c, 8c X 2 and 4c X 4) and 32c cells, respectively. Binuclear cells comprised about 65% of the myocytes; the main class was 4c X 2. A discrepancy between total protein content and gene dose has been pointed out. DNA level ratio in a number of myocytes of different ploidy were 2:4:8:16:32; the same ratio for total protein content was 2:3.5:6:11.4:25.5, respectively.