ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MITOCHONDRIA IN CARDIOMYOCYTES AFTER INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS UNDER ANOXIC CONDITIONS

V. B. Saprunova, L. E. Bakeeva, L. S. Yagujinsky

The A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russia;
e-mail: bakeeva@imec.msu.ru

Apoptosis in cardiomyocytes was induced by incubation of pieces of cardiac tissues under condition of anoxia. Electronmicroscopic investigation detected previously unknown changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure. The mitochondrial population was characterized by morphological heterogeneity. In addition to a mitochondrial population characterized with irrigated cleared matrix, anoxia induced the appearance of an atypical and previously unknown population of small electron-dense cardiomyocyte mitochondria. They were characterized by unusual localization inside electron-light mitochondria ("mitochondria inside mitochondria"). The most part of mitochondria with the irrigated matrix are commonly characterized by unusual types of re-arrangements of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Under anoxic conditions, the inner mitochondrial membrane formed electron-dense ordered structures. This is a spongy structure with cells of equal size. Results of our study are discussed in terms of conception of changes in mitochondrial reticulum ultrastructure during apoptosis.

Key words: mitochondria, electron microscopy, apoptosis, anoxia

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