H. Endo et al., ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CARDIAC MYOCYTE IN THE ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS-MAXIMUS), Journal of veterinary medical science, 57(6), 1995, pp. 1035-1039
Cardiac myocytes of an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) were observed
by transmission electron microscopy. Typical ultrastructural features
of cardiac myocytes are exhibited in the musculature of both the left
and right atria, and left ventricle of the heart. Myofibrils, mitochon
dria, T-system and sarcoplasmic reticulum are well-developed within th
e cytoplasm. Many mitochondria are characteristically concentrated is
some myocytes. Cardiac musculature is also distributed in the root of
the caudal vena cava. Many atrial granules are detected not only in at
rial myocytes, but also in the myocytes of the caudal vena cava. Atria
l natriuretic polypeptide may be secreted from the caval venous wall i
n the elephant.