ISSN:
0003-276X
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
An electron microscopic study was made on specimens of rat myocardium taken at various intervals after death, in order to determine the extent and character of autolytic change occurring during the first ten hours. Specimens were taken immediately after death and at 15 minutes, one hour, three hours, five hours and ten hours after death, fixed in 1% phosphate-buffered osmium tetroxide and examined with the electron microscope.The first noticeable change was a rapid depletion of glycogen. The specimens taken one hour or more after death show a longer sarcomere length indicating a more relaxed state. This is believed to reflect the inability of these fibers to contract upon stimulation by the initial contact with the fixative. Nuclei, when encountered, showed more chromatin clumping than in fresh tissue, but the nuclear membranes were intact.Very little change was noted in the mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, or other cellular components.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.1091470209
Permalink
