Evaluation of the Intramembrane Particle Count in Biopsied Myocardium from Patients with Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy

To clarify the abnormalities of myocardial membrane structure in cardiomyopathy, the density of intramembranous particles (IMP) of mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma, and the number of caveolar necks was evaluated by freeze-fracture morphology. The subjects consisted of 17 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 6 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and 7 patients as controls. The results showed that the numbers of IMPs on the membrane faces of mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma were significantly decreased in HCM and DCM, and that they were decreased more markedly in DCM than in HCM. The number of caveolar necks was significantly decreased in DCM. Thus, the decreased numbers of IMPs on myocardial membranes and the decrease in caveolar necks may be important characteristics resulting from abnormal myocardial membrane metabolism in cardiomyopathies, HCM and DCM.