Selective morphologic alterations of the cardiac conduction system in calves deficient in vitamin E and selenium

Vitamin E and selenium (E-Se) deficiency causes necrosis of the contractile myocardium in many species but does not usually affect the cells of the conduction system. In the present study, experimental E-Se deficiency in cattle produced preferential degeneration and necrosis of Purkinje cardiocytes. Calves fed deficient diets for 127-137 days had sublethal damage characterized histologically by sarcoplasmic accumulation of lipopigment granules; ultrastructurally, these granules corresponded to cytolysosomes that had a heterogeneous ultrastructure. Alterations in necrotic cells included mitochondrial mineralization, sarcoplasmic condensation, and plasmalemmal fragmentation. Necrosis of Purkinje cells was followed by macrophagic penetration of the external lamina, phagocytosis of necrotic sarcoplasm, and repair by fibrosis. Furthermore, E-Se depletion of calves resulted in only minimal alterations in the contractile myocardium. In contrast, feeding supplements of polyunsaturated fatty acids to E-Se-deficient calves intensified the Purkinje cell damage but also resulted in widespread degeneration and necrosis of the contractile myocardium. Accumulation of lipopigment supports a pathogenetic role for lipoperoxidation in development of the cardiac lesions of E-Se deficiency. These lesions constitute a unique example of preferential damage to Purkinje cardiocytes. This model offers an attractive method of studying damage and repair to the cardiac conduction system.