Morphometric examination of mitochondrial ultrastructure in aging cardiomyocytes

• Published in: Biochemistry (Moscow) 2015-05, Vol.80 (5), p.604-609
• Main Authors: El’darov, Ch. M., Vays, V. B., Vangeli, I. M., Kolosova, N. G., Bakeeva, L. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging - metabolism; Aging - pathology; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bioorganic Chemistry; Cardiomyocytes; Cellular Senescence; Heart cells; Life Sciences; Male; Membranes; Methods; Microbiology; Mitochondria, Heart - metabolism; Mitochondria, Heart - ultrastructure; Mitochondrial DNA; Mitochondrial Membranes - metabolism; Mitochondrial Membranes - ultrastructure; Morphogenesis; Morphometrics (Biology); Myocytes, Cardiac - metabolism; Myocytes, Cardiac - ultrastructure; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Structure
• ISSN: 0006-2979; 1608-3040
• DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915050132

Mitochondrial ultrastructure in cardiomyocytes from 3- and 24-month-old Wistar and OXYS rats was investigated using a new approach designed for morphometric analysis. The data fully confirm the electron microscopy data: the area of the inner mitochondrial membrane per unit volume of mitochondria was significantly decreased with age, as found on heart muscle section. In 3-month-old Wistar rats from the control group, this parameter was 41.3 ± 1.52 μm 2 /μm 3 , where-as in OXYS rats it was decreased to 30.57 ± 1.74 μm 2 /μm 3 . With age, an area of the inner mitochondrial membrane per unit volume of mitochondria declined in both rat strains: Wistar — from 41.3 ± 1.52 to 21.47 ± 1.22 μm 2 /μm 3 , OXYS — from 30.57 ± 1.74 to 16.3 ± 0.89 μm 2 /μm 3 . A new method that we designed and used for morphometric analysis notably simplifies the process of morphometric measurements and opens up good opportunities for its further optimization using image recognition technology.