1. Hypertrophic Z-Line Observed in Aged One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
- Author
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Kazushige Takehana, Ashraf Karkoura, J. Masty, Mamoru Yamaguchi, P. Tangkawattana, Y. Izumisawa, and S. Yamano
- Subjects
endocrine system ,Histology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Cardiac muscle ,medicine ,Ultrastructure ,Anatomy ,Line (text file) ,Biology - Abstract
The ultrastructure of cardiac muscle from 3 aged one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) was examined to see if aged camels also develop hypertrophic Z-lines as observed in the heart of aged humans and other animals. The results proved that the aged camel heart develops hypertrophic Z-lines together with other age-associated alterations, including loss of myofibrils and myofilaments, increase of intermyofibrillar spaces and intercellular spaces, and disruption of mitochondrial cristae and intercalated disc structure. Hypertrophic Z-lines are somewhat smaller than those of other species, but occur both in the atria and ventricles. Although the majority of cardiac muscle samples revealed a normal structure, the finding of hypertrophic Z-lines in camel heart is the first such observation in a ruminant animal. The anomalous camel muscle resembles that of other species in terms of cell alterations commonly associated with aged hearts.
- Published
- 1995
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