MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CARDIAC-HYPERTROPHY INDUCED BY LONG-TERM INHIBITION OF NO SYNTHASE

Morphometry of cardiomyocytes and capillary domains in the left ventri cle myocardium was performed in control rats and in rats treated with nitro-l-arginine methyl eater 50 mg/kg/day p.o. for a period of 8 week s The myocardial hypertrophy accompanying the NO-deficient hypertensio n induced by chronic inhibition of NO synthase is characterized by an increase in thickness of myocardial fibres and by relative rarefaction of the capillary bed, e.g. an alteration in myocardial structure whic h is typical for pressure overload hypertrophy.