Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Immunolabelling Myofiber Degeneration in Muscle Biopsies
Published on: December 5, 2019
Myopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with selective lysis of thick filaments
E Bertini1, C Bosman, G Salviati
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Bambino Gesu Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Insights
A rare condition caused hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an 8-year-old girl, marked by selective loss of thick filaments in heart and muscle tissue. Researchers suspect a genetic link to the beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain gene.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex cardiac condition.
- Genetic factors are implicated in HCM pathogenesis.
- Understanding rare HCM presentations is crucial for diagnosis.
Observation:
- A unique case of HCM in an 8-year-old girl.
- Histopathological analysis revealed selective loss of thick filaments.
- Myofibrillar ATPase abnormalities were specific to type 1 muscle fibers.
Findings:
- Ultrastructural examination showed significant thick filament loss.
- No qualitative abnormalities in myosin heavy chains (MHC) or light chains were detected via gel electrophoresis.
- Myosin isozyme levels correlated with histochemical findings.
Implications:
- Suggests a potential genetic basis for this HCM subtype.
- Highlights the role of the beta-cardiac MHC gene in both cardiac and type 1 skeletal muscle.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the exact pathogenetic mechanisms.
Abstract:
We present a undescribed condition in a girl who died at 8 years of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Muscle and endomyocardial biopsies disclosed a selective loss of thick filaments ultrastructurally. In muscle biopsy histochemical abnormalities of myofibrillar AT-Pase were confined to type 1 fibres. Gel electrophoresis of muscle homogenate showed no qualitative abnormalities of slow and fast myosin heavy chains (MHC) and light chains, and the amount of the different myosin isozymes was in agreement with histochemical myofibrillar ATPase findings. The pathogenetic mechanisms have not been elucidated in this case but we suspect an abnormality of the beta-cardiac MHC gene, the only gene expressed in the heart and in type 1 skeletal muscle fibres.
Related Concept Videos
Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy
Myocarditis I: Introduction
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

