Summary
The ultrastructure of the heart in Chimaera monstrosa L. is described. The endocardial and the epicardial cells are similar in the three cardiac regions. Myocardial cells show small variations.
The myofibre, 4–6 μm thick, contains one or a few myofibrils. Each myosin filament is surrounded by six actin filaments. The sarcomere banding pattern includes the Z-, A-, I-, M-, N-, and H-band. End-to-end attachments between myofibres are composed of alternating desmosomes and fasciae adhaerentes. Desmosomes and nexuses occur between longitudinally oriented cell surfaces. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is poorly developed but well defined. Peripheral coupling-like structures are common, T-tubules are absent. Membrane bound dense bodies occur in all regions. Areas with ribosomes and single myosin filaments are often seen.
The epicardial cells have a regular hexagonal surface and are much thicker than the endocardial cells. Numerous short and a few longer cytoplasmic extensions face the pericardial cavity.
The fiat endocardial cells contain a large nucleus and small amounts of cytoplasm.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, E.R., Pepe, R.A.: Ultrastructure of developing muscle cells in the chick embryo. Am. J. Anat. 116, 115–147 (1965)
Baldwin, K.M.: The fine structure and electrophysiology of heart muscle cell injury. J. Cell Biol. 46, 455–476 (1970)
Bloom, G.D.: The fine structure of cyclostome cardiac cells. Z. Zellforsch, mikrosk. Anat. 57, 213–239 (1962)
Cantin, M., Benchimol, S., Castonguay, Y., Berlinguet, J.-C., Huet, M.: Ultrastructural cytochemistry of atrial cells. V. Characterization of specific granules in the human left atrium. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 52, 179–192 (1975)
Cobb, J.L.S.: Gap junctions in the heart of teleost fish. Cell Tiss. Res. 154, 131–134 (1974)
Dewey, M.M., Barr, L.: A study of the structure and distribution of the nexus. J. Cell Biol. 23, 553–585 (1964)
Fawcett, D.W.: The sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal and cardiac muscle. Circulation XXIV, 336–348 (1961)
Fawcett, D.W., Selby, C.C.: Observations on the fine structure of the turtle atrium. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 36–85 (1958)
Forbes, M.S., Sperelakis, N.: Ultrastructure of the lizard ventricular muscle. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 34, 439–451 (1971)
Grimley, P.M., Edwards, G.A.: The ultrastructure of cardiac desmosomes in the toad and their relationships to the intercalated discs. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 8, 305–318 (1960)
Heusson-Stiennon, J.A.: Morphogenèse de la cellule musculaire striée étudiée à microscope électronique. I. Formation des structures fibrillaires. J. Microsc. 4, 657–678 (1965)
Hirakow, R.: The fine structure of the Necturus (Amphibia) heart. Am. J. Anat. 132, 401–422 (1971)
Humason, G.L.: Animal tissue techniques. 2nd ed. San Francisco and London: Freeman and Company 1967
Jamieson, J.D., Palade, G.E.: Specific granules in atrial muscle cells. J. Cell Biol. 23, 151–171 (1964)
Karnovsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A (1965)
Kilarski, W.: The organization of the cardiac muscle cell of the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.). Acta biol. cracov. VII, 75–95 (1964a)
Kilarski, W.: Observations on the myocardium of the cardiac chamber of the sand-eel (Ammodytes tobianus L.) Acta biol. cracov. VII, 235–245 (1964b)
Kilarski, W.: The fine structure of striated muscles in teleost fishes. Z. Zellforsch, mikrosk. Anat. 79, 562–580 (1967)
Kisch, B.: Studies in comparative electron microscopy of the heart. I. Pipefish and bat. Exp. Med. Surg. 12, 335–360 (1954)
Kisch, B., Philpott, D.E.: Electron microscopy of the heart of fish. II. The heart of selachians (dog-fish and torpedo). Exp. Med. Surg. 21, 54–74 (1963)
Kuhn, H., Richards, J.G., Tranzer, J.P.: The nature of rat “specific heart granules” with regard to catecholamines: An investigation by ultrastructural cytochemistry. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 50, 159–166 (1975)
Leak, L.V.: The ultrastructure of myofibers in a reptilian heart: The Boa constrictor. Am. J. Anat. 120, 553–582 (1968)
Leak, L.V.: Electron microscopy of cardiac tissue in a primitive vertebrate Myxine glutinosa. J. Morphol. 128, 131–158 (1969)
Martinez-Palomo, A., Bencosme, S.A.: Electron microscopic observations on myocardial specific granules and residual bodies in vertebrates. Anat. Rec. 154, 437 (1966)
McNutt, S.N.: Ultrastructure of intercellular junctions in adult and developing cardiac muscle. Am. J. Anat. 25, 169–183 (1970)
Myklebust, R., Saetersdal, T.S., Engedal, H., Ulstein, M., Ødegården, S.: Ultrastructural studies on the formation of myofilaments and myofibrils in the human embryonic and adult hypertrophied heart. Anat. Embryol. 152, 127–140 (1978)
Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Rönnau, K.C.: Myogenesis and contraction in the early embryonic heart of the rainbow trout. Cell Tiss. Res. 180, 123–132 (1977)
Santer, R.M.: The organization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in teleost ventricular myocardial cells. Cell Tiss. Res. 151, 395–402 (1974)
Santer, R.M., Cobb, J.L.S.: The fine structure of the heart of the teleost, Pleuronectes platessa L. Z. Zellforsch. mikrosk. Anat. 131, 1–14 (1972)
Schipp, R., Beyerle-v. Wehren, A.: Zur funktionellen Bedeutung der osmiophilen Granula in Herzorganen niederer Vertebraten. Z. Zellforsch, mikrosk. Anat. 108, 243–267 (1970)
Simpson, F.O., Rayns, D.G., Ledingham, J.M.: The ultrastructure of ventricular and atrial myocardium. In: Ultrastructure of the mammalian heart (C.E. Challice and S. Virágh, eds.) New York and London: Academic Press 1973
Sjøstrand, F.S., Cedergren, E.A., Dewey, M.M.: The ultrastructure of the intercalated discs of frog, mouse and guinea pig cardiac muscle. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 1, 271–287 (1958)
Sommer, J.R., Johnson, E.A.: Cardiac muscle. A comparative study with special reference to frog and chicken hearts. Z. Zellforsch. mikrosk. Anat. 98, 437–468 (1969)
Sommer, J.R., Johnson, E.A.: Comparative ultrastructure of cardiac cell membrane specializations. A review. Am. J. Cardiol. 25, 184–194 (1970)
Staley, N.A., Benson, E.S.: The ultrastructure of the frog ventricular muscle and its relationships to mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling. J. Cell Biol. 38, 79–114 (1968)
Saetersdal, T.S., Justesen, N.-P., Krohnstad, A.W.: Ultrastructure and innervation of the teleostean atrium. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 6, 415–437 (1974)
Saetersdal, T.S., Sørensen, E., Myklebust, R.: Granule containing cells and fibers in the sinus venosus of elasmobranchs. Cell Tiss. Res. 163, 471–490 (1975)
Sætersdal, T.S., Myklebust, R., Skagseth, E., Engedal, H.: Ultrastructural studies of the growth of filaments and sarcomeres in mechanically overloaded human hearts. Virchows Arch. B. Cell. Path. 21, 91–112 (1976)
Virágh, S., Challice, C.E.: Origin and differentiation of cardiac muscle cells in the mouse. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 42, 1–24 (1973)
Zangerl, R.: Interrelationships of early chondrichthyans. In: Interrelationships of fishes (P.H. Greenwood, R.S. Miles and C. Patterson eds.). London: Academic Press 1973
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berge, P.I. The cardiac ultrastructure of Chimaera monstrosa L. (Elasmobranchii: Holocephali). Cell Tissue Res. 201, 181–195 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235056
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235056