The effects of altered cation balance on the fine structure of hypoxic myocardial cells

To determine whether the changes in intracellular/extracellular cation balance which develop in ischaemic myocardium are responsible for the fine structural changes seen in such tissue, thin slices of normal canine ventricle were incubated under hypoxic conditions at 37 degrees C and physiological pH in balanced salt solution (BSS), isotonic NaCl and isotonic KCl. Slices from each solution were fixed at 10-120 min intervals and examined by light and electron microscopy. For 60 min, tissue from both NaCl and KCl showed good overall preservation of cell architecture and only mild subcellular alterations including aggregation of nuclear chromatin, disappearance of glycogen granules, and swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Tissue from BSS showed early development of intramitochondrial dense inclusions together with focal contraction-band damage similar to that seen in temporarily ischaemic, re-perfused heart muscle and at the margins of infarcts. These changes thus appear to be promoted by divalent cations. The progressive reversal of monovalent cation balance in an area of permanent and severe ischaemia does not appear to be a major determinant of fine structural change.