[Electron microscope study of the disorders of cardiomyocyte membrane permeability in immune heart lesions]

An electron microscopic tracer of colloidal lanthane was used to explore the changes occurring in cardiomyocyte sarcolemma permeability after local immune injury to the dog heart. Ion permeability of the myocyte membranes was demonstrated to be impaired rapidly (within the first 5 minutes of reaction) at the site of cardiac antibody action. The number of the cardiomyocytes with impaired sarcolemma permeability increased with time. Intracellular deposition of lanthane was accompanied by structural alterations in the cardiomyocytes: contractures, mitochondrial deformation. Pretreatment with the antihistamine drug phencarol prevented to a considerable measure the impairment of sarcolemma permeability and destruction of cardiomyocytes under immune injury to the heart.