[Apoptosis and heart disorders].

Papers on the significance of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in cardiovascular disorders development are reviewed. Some distinctive features of regulation and morphological manifestations of cardiomyocyte apoptosis are described. Although a great majority of cardiomyocytes are highly differentiated cells, apoptosis-related loss of cellular weight is noted in the number of pathological processes. Data on the role of apoptosis in myocardial ischemia in cardiomyopathies and in heart failure are presented.