[Method for the finding and morphometry of cardiomyocyte mitochondria in semithin sections].

To expose cardiomyocyte mitochondria under light microscope, a modified method for staining with methylene blue and sodium tetraboron of semi-thin sections of the myocardium is offered. Comparative analysis revealed that the volume density of mitochondria determined on semi-thin sections 1 micron in diameter is overstated 1.206 +/- 0.005 = fold as compared with the magnitude of the index in question calculated on electron microscopic photograph. The Holmes effect and limited resolving power of the light microscope are the reasons for overstating. The method offered allows one to readily expose cardiomyocyte mitochondria and to carry out rapidly the preliminary labour-consuming stage of morphometric research, thus saving work time on ultratome and electron microscope.