Ultrastructural Changes in Muscular Dystrophy: I. Cardiac Tissue of Piglets Deprived of Vitamin E and Selenium

The ultrastructure of cardiac tissue from neonate, 3-, 6-, 8-, and 12-week-old piglets, born of vitamin E- and selenium-deprived sows was studied. A progression of lesions occurred in nonmuscular components of this tissue; the first lesion appeared in connective tissue elements. Fibroblasts and the extracellular compartment appeared most severely altered in the neonate, and progressive vascular damage was very evident from 3 to 12 weeks of age. Similarly, neuronal elements appear altered at 3 weeks and were almost nonevident in areas showing marked lesions at 8 and 12 weeks. Fairly extensive alterations were evident in all of these elements before any marked changes become evident in the muscle. The relevance of these observations is discussed in relation to the etiology of the disease.