title: Induction of apoptosis in rat myocardium under anoxic conditions.
abstract: The effect of anoxic incubation of small slices of isolated rat hearts on respiration, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial ultrastructure was investigated. Anoxic incubation for 72 h induced apoptosis accompanied by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and changes in respiration and mitochondrial ultrastructure. The mitochondrial population was characterized by morphological heterogeneity. In a significant part of the mitochondrial population there were signs of mitochondrial swelling and appearance of electron-dense mitochondria. Anoxia also induced the appearance of an atypical (and previously unknown) population of small electron-dense mitochondria. They were characterized by unusual localization inside electron-light mitochondria. Under anoxic conditions the inner mitochondrial membrane formed electron-dense ordered structures. All changes described here reflect two opposing processes occurring in mitochondria: apoptotic destruction and compensatory processes responsible for maintenance of mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia. yag@genebee.msu.su
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Saprunova
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kazimirchuk
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tonshin
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bakeeva
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yagujinsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000473:pathology*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000473:pathology*; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial