Menachem Nahir

Ultrastructural and cytochemical changes in the heart of iron-deficient rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3 weeks that were maintained on an iron-deficient diet for 4-5 weeks developed severe anemia with markedly reduced hemoglobin levels (3.94 +/- 0.14 Hb g% versus controls 12.9 +/- 0.11 Hb g%). Iron-deficiency resulted in marked cardiac hypertrophy (cardiomegaly). On sacrifice, the hearts were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. The major ultrastructural changes were found in the hypertrophied left ventricle and left papillary muscles. Iron-deficiency caused marked edema in myocytes, sarcomeres were out of register, and degeneration and discontinuities in myofilaments were common. Iron-deficiency resulted in the enlargement of the interfibrillar mitochondria, changes in the matrix and the formation of electron-dense amorphous bodies. The ultrastructural changes in myocytes in response to experimental iron-deficiency were similar to those described by others in cases of experimental ischemia or hypoxia. Mitochondrial changes were also found in the atria of iron-deficient rats. Quantitative cytochemical measurement of succinate dehydrogenase activity was determined and was shown to be substantially reduced in the iron-deficient heart. In severely iron-deficient rats restored to a normal iron-sufficient diet for two weeks, hemoglobin levels recovered, however the myocytes of the hypertrophied left ventricles and papillary muscles continued to show severe degenerative changes.

Light and Electron Microscopical Study of the Conjunctiva in Sicca Syndrome

Conjunctival biopsies of 11 patients with sicca syndrome were studied under light and transmission electron microscopy. The notable findings were vasculitis of the conjunctival vessels. There were severe changes in the microvilli, namely a loss of microvilli and decrease in their height, measuring approximately 1,000-2,000 A, in comparison with microvilli of the control conjunctiva, measuring 4,000 A in height. There was no branching yet or fusion of microvilli.

Fatal Venous Thrombosis in Hyperosmolar Coma

In many reported cases of hyperosmolar coma venous thrombosis was found, but no laboratory diagnosis was attempted in order to confirm or detect the thrombotic phenomena.1–3 The following is a report of a case of hyperosmolar coma in which signs of intravascular clotting appeared during the course of the illness and the patient died of massive pulmonary embolism.

Vasculitis and Morphology of Microvilli of the Conjunctiva in Sjogren Syndrome

The conjunctiva plays an important role in external ocular physiology by contributing to maintenance of the tear film. Light and electron microscopical studies of the conjunctiva in Sjogren syndrome have been studied and changes such as stratification of the epithelium, elongation of the epithelial cells, widening of the intercellular spaces and reduction of the number of microvilli and number of goblet cells have been described(1,2).