Mitochondria and cardiac hypertrophy

Abstract

A summary is given of some of the information available concerning the response of the systems involved in the synthesis and degradation of mitochondrial components to stimuli that lead to cardiac hypertrophy. The aim is to relate these findings to mechanisms possibly involved in the activation of the synthesis of mitochondria and other cardiac muscle cell components during the development of hypertrophy. For better understanding, a brief review is also given of some aspects of what is now known about the assembly of mitochondria, a complex process that involves two separate genetic systems.