Upper panels demonstrate unstretched cardiomyocyte control, control + allopurinol (250 µM), control + Mito Q (50 nM) at 4,500× and 17,000×.
Lower panels demonstrated cardiomyocytes subjected to 3 hours of stretch and treated with either 250 µM allopurinol or 50 nM Mito Q. In the 3 hour stretch cardiomyocytes there is marked structural breakdown of myofilaments and Z-line (black arrows) and mitochondrial swelling and loss of electron density (white arrows) in stretched cells compared to controls. Z-line structural integrity and mitochondrial morphology are preserved by allopurinol or Mito Q pre-treatment.