SEX-DIFFERENCES IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE N ORMAL PORCINE MYOCARDIUM

The myocardium of 20 young sows, 20 young boars, 10 old boars and 10 o ld sows was studied histometrically. Significant sex-depending differe nces in the structure of the normal cardiac wall could be observed. In first line - exactly as in man - the diffusely distributed intramyoca rdial connective tissue is significantly higher in adult female subjec ts than in male ones. Later on, it changes and the amount of intramyoc ardial connective tissue is reduced in older sows. An interaction is s uggested between the content of intramyocardial connective tissue and the estrogen level.