EFFECT OF REPEATED COMPLETE STARVATION ON QUANTITATIVE PARAMETERS OF RAT CARDIOMYOCYTES

Sixty-four male Wistar rats were subjected to repeated complete starva tion with free access to water. Each starvation period lasted 6 days a nd was followed by a 7-day recovery period. The concentration of cardi omyocytes (CMC) and their total number in the left ventricle (LV) were measured after alkaline dissociation of the myocardium. The volume de nsity of muscle fibers and their absolute total mass in the LV were de termined by stereological analysis. It is shown that after 6 successiv e starvation periods the proliferative potential of the CMC population is reduced.