The principal forms of acute cardiomyocyte damage of metabolic and ischemic genesis are accompanied by changes in the contractile apparatus, which is reflected in double refraction of myofibrils. Thus, polarization microscopy is the most sensitive method allowing one to detect the early stages of cardiomyocyte damage. Individual types of cardiomyocyte lesions are identified on the basis of parallel histological studies and polarization and electron microscopy of prenecrotic alterations and myocardial infarction using experimental and autopsy material. They are: I, II, and III degree myofibrillar contracture, intracellular myocytolysis, primary lumpy degradation of myofibrils, and cytolysis. These types of damage form the morphological basis of acute myocardial pathology with a possible outcome of coagulative or colliquative necrosis.

Contraction bands in human hearts: Pathology or artifact?

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Principal forms of acute damage to cardiomyocytes according to polarization microscopy data

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