[Types of mitochondria destruction in the cardiac myocyte (from the data of scanning electron microscopy)]

Scanning electron microscopy has revealed three types of myocardial mitochondria degradation in intact rabbit heart: desquamation of the external membrane, mitochondria swelling with their following destruction, mini-focal ulceration of mitochondrial external membranes. There was a clear-cut daily and seasonal dynamics of the three types of degradation. Mitochondria degradation was much more pronounced in the fibrillating than in intact heart.