[Ultrastructural study of moniliformin-induced lesions on the myocardium of rats and mice].

Effects of moniliformin on the ultrastructure of the myocardium of mice and rats were studied. Mice were given moniliformin orally at the dosage of 29.46 mg/kg. One hour later lesions of the mitochondria of the myocardial cells were found which became more severe 2-3 hours later. Ultrastructural lesions were also observed in the myofibrils and sarcolemma. Rats were given moniliformin orally at the dosage of 6 mg/kg once daily for 56 days. Lesions of the mitochondria and myofibrils were relatively mild. Myocardiac specimens taken 21 days after toxin administration, lesions of the sarcolemma became more obvious. Various amounts of collagen were produced by the myocardiac cells. These moniliformin-induced lesions were similar to the ultrastructural changes in the myocardium of patients with Keshan disease. Our findings indicate that there may be a close and important relationship between moniliformin intoxication and Keshan disease.