title: Analysis of healing after myocardial infarction using polarized light microscopy.
abstract: To better understand the healing process after permanent coronary artery occlusion in a canine model, the authors used polarized light microscopy. At 6 weeks after occlusion the scar collagen was mainly type I. Some regions of the scar contained a fiber lattice which appeared to be type III collagen. Collagen orientation was measured using a universal stage; subepicardial collagen was obliquely aligned (-14.0 +/- 3.5 degrees), midmyocardial collagen circumferentially aligned (1.4 +/- 0.4 degrees) and subendocardial collagen obliquely aligned (12.7 +/- 2.1 degrees). The molecular organization of scar collagen increased from 1 to 6 weeks after occlusion. Muscle cell disarray, similar to that in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was seen in the viable muscle adjacent to the scar. Such abnormal organization extended as far as 1 cm from the edge of the scar. The ability of polarized light microscopy to assess these different parameters from histologic sections demonstrates that it is a useful adjunct to other methods commonly used to study myocardial healing.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Harper Hospital, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Boughner
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kloner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004285:Dogs; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen