[Destructive changes in the mitochondria of human cardiomyocytes in alcoholic heart lesion]

Destructive changes in cardiomyocyte mitochondria of patients with diagnosis of alcoholic heart lesion were observed by the ultrastructural analysis of the endocardial biopsies serial sections. The appearance of mitochondria with the third additional compartment and mitochondria having two zones of different electron density not separated into the special compartments are described for the first time. The development of megamitochondria having different morphology is demonstrated. Mitochondrial origin of lipophuscin granules is suggested on the basis of the ultrastructural changes. Unusual structure of atypical mitochondria may provide new properties of these organelles this being considered by the authors as an adaptive cell and mitochondria response to the new metabolic conditions.