[Ultrastructure of myocardial capillaries in chronic ischemic heart disease].

Intraoperative myocardial biopsy specimens taken from 50 patients with coronary heart disease were studied to examine ultrastructure of myocardial capillaries. It was found that this disease was characterized by abundant myocardial capillaries with a narrowed lumen. Quantitative stereological analysis indicated that the ultrastructure of the capillaries with narrowed lumen was not substantially different from that of open capillaries. The findings showed that the narrowed capillaries to be reserve and capable of providing an adequate blood supply of cardiomyocytes after aortocoronary bypass surgery.