ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Intermediate filaments
;
Heart muscle cells
;
Anabolic steroid hormone
;
Rat
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Long-term treatment of female rats with the anabolic steroid hormone Methandrostenolone results in a conspicuous increase of intermediate sized, nonmyofibrillar filaments in muscle cells of the left cardiac ventricle, as revealed by electron microscopy. These filaments, measuring 70–110 Å in diameter, form a characteristic network at the Z-level of the sarcomere, either encircling or penetrating the Z-bands, and appear to insert into the nuclear membrane. The T-system is accompanied by the filaments adjacent to the site of the couplings. Here they are attached to subsarcolemmal electron-dense patches, which may be Z-line precursor material. The filaments may function as a cytoskeleton, to provide passive support in the mechanism of contraction and to mediate nucleo-sarcolemmal and nucleomyofibrillar exchange.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00227598
