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Variability of cardiomyocyte DNA content, ploidy level and nuclear number in mammalian hearts

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Abstract

DNA content, ploidy level, cell size and nuclear number were investigated in 54 mammalian hearts from nine species. DNA content was determined biochemically and ploidy level of cells was studied by the means of Feulgen cytophotometry. Nuclear number was calculated by a new method, while cell size was determined by using ocular micrometry. In most mammals diploid cell nuclei predominate. Higher ploidy levels were found in the human and the pig hearts. The total amount of DNA correlated with the myocardial weight. Eight million heart muscle cell nuclei were found in mice (myocardial weight 160 mg), and 2600 million heart muscle cell nuclei in the human heart (myocardial weight 210 g), but in the hearts of horses up to 35 000 million heart muscle cell nuclei (myocardial weight 3.4 kg) were found. The number of heart muscle and connective tissue cell nuclei was correlated with myocardial weight. The ratio of connective tissue cell nuclei to heart muscle cell nuclei was between 2:1 and 3:1. In cardiac growth this ratio shifted towards connective tissue cell nuclei. Increased heart weight corresponds to an increase in cell size. Diameter between 11 μm and 18 μm may be an optimum for heart muscle cells of mammals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology (Ludwig-Aschoff-Haus), Albertstrasse 19, D-79104, Freiburg i. Br., Germany

    C.-P. Adler, H. Friedburg, G. W. Herget & M. Neuburger

  2. Inselspital Bern, Klinik für Viszeral- und Transplantationsmedizin, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland

    H. Schwalb

Authors
  1. C.-P. Adler
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  2. H. Friedburg
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  3. G. W. Herget
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  4. M. Neuburger
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  5. H. Schwalb
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Adler, CP., Friedburg, H., Herget, G.W. et al. Variability of cardiomyocyte DNA content, ploidy level and nuclear number in mammalian hearts. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 429, 159–164 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192438

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192438

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