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Pathomorphological study of the endocrine heart in various cardiovascular diseases
Insights
This study examined cardiac hormones in patients undergoing heart surgery. Results show varying hormone levels in heart cells and a decrease in circulating hormones after successful treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The endocrine heart contains myoendocrine cells producing cardiac hormones.
- Cardiodilatin (CDD-99-126) is identical to alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP).
- Understanding these hormones is crucial for cardiac health assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiac hormone levels in the endocrine heart.
- To analyze circulating forms and concentrations of CDD-99-126/alpha-hANP.
- To correlate hormone status with patient conditions like aorto-coronary bypass and valve diseases.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy of right auricular myoendocrine cells.
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on pre- and postoperative blood samples.
- Quantification of cardiodilatin immunoreactivity (CDD-IR) and circulating molecular forms.
Main Results:
- Myoendocrine cell CDD-IR and granularity varied with patient status.
- Aorto-coronary bypass patients with normotonia typically had a normal endocrine heart.
- Mitral valve diseases showed frequent autophagolytic changes in myoendocrine cells.
- Only one circulating form of CDD-99-126/alpha-hANP was detected.
- Postoperative CDD levels decreased, particularly in successfully treated patients.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac hormone levels and cell morphology reflect patient cardiac status.
- CDD-99-126/alpha-hANP is the primary circulating form.
- Successful cardiac interventions correlate with reduced circulating CDD levels.
Abstract:
Tissue of the endocrine heart was examined from patients undergoing open heart surgery for aorto-coronary bypass and correction of valve and septum diseases. The right auricular myoendocrine cells were studied with immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy for cardiac hormones (cardiodilatin = CDD-99-126, which is identical to alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide = alpha-hANP). Furthermore, the pre- and postoperative blood samples were analysed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) combined with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the plasma concentration and the molecular forms of circulating CDD-99-126/alpha-hANP. The results show that, depending on the status of the patient, differing quantities of CDD-IR (cardiodilatin immunoreactivity) are detected in the myoendocrine cells. This is also confirmed by the granularity of myoendocrine cells, as seen in the electron microscope. The ACB (aorto-coronary bypass) patients with normotonia exhibit, as a rule, the status of a normal endocrine heart. In mitral valve diseases, particularly in the combined vitia, prominent autophagolytic changes in myoendocrine cells are frequently seen. Pre- and postoperative blood shows only one circulating form of cardiodilatin which exhibits the characteristics of the 28 amino acid residues containing molecule CDD-99-126/alpha-hANP. The postoperative CDD content of blood plasma tends to decrease mainly in patients with successful treatment.