title: Microtubules and desmin filaments during the onset of heart growth in the rat.
abstract: Microtubules and intermediate desmin filaments were visualized in rat cardiomyocytes during the onset of heart growth by double immunolabelling of isolated myocytes, with specific antibodies raised against tubulin and desmin. Heart growth was stimulated either by mechanical overloading induced by aortic stenosis, or by injection of thyroxine into hypothyroid rats. In both experimental models, alterations in the microtubule pattern were observed soon after stimulation of growth whereas desmin filament organization remained unchanged. Microtubules were redistributed in arrays parallel to the long axis of the myocytes and were more numerous around the nuclei. Microtubules therefore appeared to be involved in the cellular events occurring during stimulated heart growth irrespective of the nature of the stimulus.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000473:pathology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin; D014404:Tubulin; D013974:Thyroxine