Image and DNA analysis of hypertrophic myocytes in hypertensive heart disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences in the pathophysiology of cardiac hypertrophy between patients with hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).


METHODS
The study group consisted of 30 autopsied heart disease patients (10 HHD, 10 HCM and 10 noncardiac heart disease). DNA synthesis by hypertrophic cardiac myocytes was examined, and three-dimensional myocyte structure image was investigated. DNA synthesis and the cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometry using autopsy material. Three-dimensional myocyte structure image was visualized.


RESULTS
The percentage of cells in G2M phase of the cell cycle was significantly decreased in the myocardium of autopsied hearts with HCM as compared with hearts with HHD (HCM:HHD = 1.2 +/- 1.1%: 7.7 +/- 2.6%, mean +/- SD). Hypertrophic myocytes of HCM characteristically possessed myocardial disarray and irregular side-to-side branch connections between myocytes. No myocyte disarray or irregular connections could be observed in HHD.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the mechanism of cardiac hypertrophy differs between patients with HHD and HCM and also suggest dissimilar cell vitality and latent proliferative viability of hypertrophic myocytes in a hypertrophic process between HHD and HCM. That is, hypertrophic myocytes may be called "restricted" myocytes in a morphologic and biochemical sense.
Takeda
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Aoto Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Sakata
A
A
Takeda
N
N
D000368:Aged; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002469:Cell Separation; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006984:Hypertrophy; D019044:Image Cytometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size
D004247:DNA