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Ultrastructure of the aging myocardium: a morphometric approach
The American Journal of Anatomy
|September 1, 1977
Summary
Aging Syrian hamster hearts show ultrastructural changes in cardiac muscle cells, including increased mitochondria and lysosomes but decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum. This suggests a discoordinate aging process in the mammalian myocardium.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular Aging
- Cardiac Histology
Background:
- The aging process affects cardiac tissue structure and function.
- Understanding age-related changes at the cellular level is crucial for cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare ultrastructural and morphometric changes in left ventricular tissue between adult and aging Syrian hamsters.
- To investigate the specific cellular components affected by myocardial aging.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative and morphometric electron microscopy of left ventricular myocardium.
- Analysis of volume fractions and surface areas of cellular organelles.
Main Results:
- Aging myocardium exhibited indented nuclei, lipid droplets, and dense body aggregations.
- Increased volume fractions of mitochondria, lipids, and lysosomes in older animals.
- Decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum volume and membrane surface area, along with reduced mitochondrial inner membrane area per volume.
Conclusions:
- Mammalian myocardial aging is characterized by discoordinate changes in cellular components.
- Specific organelles like mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum show differential aging patterns.