[Stereology of the myocardium in human fetus. Quantitative study of the structural changes in the last two trimesters of gestation].
OBJECTIVE
Quantitative study of the human myocardial comparing the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation.


METHODS
Fragments of the myocardium were collected from 8 fetal human hearts (4 from 2nd and 4 from 3rd trimesters) and prepared by histological methods. Fifteen random fields from each region were analyzed considering independently myocytes, connective tissue and vessels. Stereological determinations were possible by counting test-points and intersections on a multipurpose test lattice (M42).


RESULTS
Stereological differences between last 2 trimesters of gestation were not significant (p > 0.05). The volume density was myocyte (including nucleus) = 75.6% in 2nd trimester and 67.7% in 3rd trimester; vessels = 3.7% in 2nd trimester and 6.4% in 3rd trimester; connective tissue (interstitial substance without vessels) = 20.6 to 25.9% for 2nd and 3rd trimesters respectively. However, considering the nuclei of the myocytes differences between last 2 trimesters were significant (p = 0.004). The volume density of the nuclei had a reduction from 2nd to 3rd trimesters (from 15.2 to 8.1% respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This result suggests decreasing synthesis of proteins from nucleus of myocyte in the last 2 gestational trimesters, but without quantitative important changes in the cardiac tissue, probably in relation to the reduction of the myocardial cellular multiplication.
Vidal
R X
RX
Departamento de Anatomia, Univ. do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.
Neves
M C
MC
Villar
V C
VC
Viana
W N
WN
Mandarim-de-Lacerda
C A
CA
D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Estereologia do miocárdio em fetos humanos. Estudo quantitativo das modificações estruturais nos dois últimos trimestres de gestação.