Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
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Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix

Published on: June 14, 2016

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Structural and Functional Characterization of the Aorta in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Ayman M Ibrahim1,2,3, Mohamed Roshdy1, Najma Latif4,5

  • 1Aswan Heart Center, Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, Egypt (A.M.I., M.R., A. Elsawy, M.H., S.H., W.E., A. Elaithy, A. Elguindy, A. Afifi, Y.A., M.Y.).

Circulation. Heart Failure
|January 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) causes aortic wall stiffness due to structural changes in smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix. These alterations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients indicate potential arterial dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Cardiomyopathy Studies
  • Aortic Wall Mechanics

Background:

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects not only the myocardium but also extracardiac tissues.
  • Investigating aortic structural and functional changes in obstructive HCM is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural and functional alterations in the ascending aorta of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.
  • To correlate aortic changes with clinical and molecular parameters in HCM.

Main Methods:

  • Histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopy analysis of aortic biopsies from 101 HCM patients and 9 controls.
  • Quantitative assessment of protein expression and morphometry.
  • Measurement of pulse wave velocity using cardiac magnetic resonance in 85 HCM patients and 117 controls.

Main Results:

  • HCM aortas showed decreased medial lamellar units, increased interlamellar distance, and wall thickness.
  • Alterations in extracellular matrix components (collagen, elastin) and smooth muscle cell markers were observed.
  • Significantly higher pulse wave velocity in HCM patients correlated with disease severity.

Conclusions:

  • Obstructive HCM is associated with increased aortic wall stiffness.
  • Structural changes in the medial lamellar unit, smooth muscle cells, and extracellular matrix contribute to aortic dysfunction in HCM.
  • These findings highlight potential arterial dysfunction in HCM patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
HCMaortaextracellular matrixpulse wave velocitysmooth muscle cell

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