Regional changes in myocyte structure in model of canine right atrial hypertrophy.

To investigate regional variation of myocyte response to atrial hypertrophy, control dogs were compared with dogs with right atrial hypertrophy created by induction of tricuspid regurgitation; after 1 yr, right atrial-to-body weight ratio increased 122% over controls. One section from the interatrial band, appendage and nonappendage roofs, and nonappendage side of each atrium of each dog was stained to reveal myocyte outlines and transverse tubules; myocyte cross-sectional areas were measured and transverse tubule prevalence was estimated. In control dogs, interatrial band myocytes were significantly larger and had more transverse tubules than other atrial myocytes. With atrial hypertrophy, right interatrial band myocytes did not increase significantly in size, whereas other right atrial myocytes nearly doubled in size, approaching the size of interatrial band myocytes without approaching the content of transverse tubules. Left atrial myocytes did not increase in size. Thus hypertrophic response of atrial myocytes to hemodynamic stress depends on the region in which the myocytes are found, and atrial hypertrophy does not demand transverse tubule proliferation.