Ultrastructural morphometric investigation of the heart of rabbits after a single administration of reserpine.

The ultrastructure of myocardial cells of chinchilla rabbits was morphometrically examined after administration of one dose of reserpine. The results show that 24 hours after administration of reserpine, there is a decrease in the number and an increase in the size of the mitochondria, a relaxation or narrowing and ramification of myofibrils, an increase in intracellular lipid content compared with control animals. These changes are the result of functional and chemical desympathization and they represent an ultrastructural-morphometric characteristic of the action on cardiomyocytes.