Fig 2. Tissue changes in the different spatial distributions of Purkinje cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction.

A. Healthy intramyocardial Purkinje cells. Control group. 200x magnification. Hematoxylin-eosin. B. Subendocardial layer of Purkinje fibers in the subacute reperfused infarction group. 100x magnification. Hematoxylin-eosin. Practically all the myocardial tissue has been replaced by mixed granulation and inflammatory tissue. Purkinje cells appear only slightly vacuolated, before a layer of disrupted surviving cardiomyocytes. Inflammatory infiltrate can also be seen in the endocardium. C. Detail of an unaltered intramyocardial Purkinje bundle delimitating an area of necrotic tissue and inflammatory infiltrate in preserved myocardium in the subacute reperfused infarction group. 200x magnification. Hematoxylin-eosin. D. Preserved subendocardial Purkinje cells within an extensive fibrous tissue scar. Chronic infarction group. 100x magnification. Hematoxylin-eosin. Note the presence of several cardiomyocytes as well as the appearance of capillaries. C, capillary; CM, cardiomyocyte; E, endocardium; FT, fibrous tissue; GT, granulation tissue; PC, Purkinje cell.