ULTRASTRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS IN PIGS WITH NATURALLY-OCCURRING HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Naturally occurring hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in pigs is gener ally characterized by unexplained cardiac hypertrophy with abnormal hi stological features (Liu et al., 1994; Dai et al., 1995). The histolog ical alterations in HCM-affected hearts are characteristic, and can be used to diagnose the disease (Dal et al, 1995). Briefly, these are ma rked disorientation of cardiac muscle cells, thickening of the intramu ral coronary arterial wall with a narrowing of the lumen, endocardial and myocardial fibrosis. A high incidence of HCM in a population of pi gs strongly suggests a hereditary basis and the Pig Research Institute , Taiwan has, therefore, endeavoured to produce a specific strain of H CM pigs. The purpose of the present study was to determine the ultrast ructural changes occurring in pigs with naturally occurring HCM.