[Sex differences in the structure of the normal porcine myocardial wall]

The myocardium of 20 young sows, 20 young boars, 10 old boars and 10 old sows was studied histometrically. Significant sex-depending differences in the structure of the normal cardiac wall could be observed. In first line--exactly as in man--the diffusely distributed intramyocardial connective tissue is significantly higher in adult female subjects than in male ones. Later on, it changes and the amount of intramyocardial connective tissue is reduced in older sows. An interaction is suggested between the content of intramyocardial connective tissue and the estrogen level.