Pathomorphological changes of the myocardium in canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Abstract

The study was conducted on ventricular and atrial wall preparations from 11 dogs with clinically diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy. After fixation, the specimens were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Masson-Goldner trichrome technique. Parenchymal changes (fibrosis and fatty infiltration), vascular changes (congestion and coronary vessel wall hypertrophy), degenerative changes (loss of striation, changes in cardiomycyte and nuclei structure), and presence of inflammatory infiltrates (mononuclear and polynuclear) were estimated. Complex histological changes in both ventricular and atrial muscles were shown. It was not determined whether the processes occurring in the myocardium have a primary character, or are a consequence of developing heart failure. Such issues will be put under further and more detailed examination.