Figure 3.

Transmission electron micrographs of the ultrastructural alterations of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in myocardial I/R injury experimental groups. (A) The sham-operated group shows intact nucleoli, homogeneous chromatin and visible microvilli (black arrow). (B) In the I/R group, heterochromatic clumping, peripheral condensation and margination of nuclear chromatin (black arrow) are observed; the pyknotic nucleus assumes the appearance of a half-moon or crescent shape (white arrow). (C) The GW9662 group exhibits heterochromatic clumping, peripheral condensation and margination of nuclear chromatin (black arrow), together with the formation of apoptotic bodies (white arrow). (D) In the antagomir-128 group, the peripheral chromatin condensation and aggregation of nuclear chromatin in dense masses was attenuated (black arrow). (E) The antagomir-128+GW9662 group shows heterochromatic clumping, peripheral condensation and margination of nuclear chromatin (black arrow). Magnification, ×7700; scale bar = 2 µm. I/R, ischemia/reperfusion.