Impaired Mitophagy: A New Potential Mechanism of Human Chronic Atrial Fibrillation

Figure 2

Mitochondria accumulation and increased autophagic vacuoles in atrial myocytes of patients with chronic AF. (a) Representative electron microscopic images of mitochondria in RAA (n = 5 per group, scale bar = 1 μm). The asterisk indicates typical mitochondrial. (b, d) Semiquantitative analysis of mitochondrial area and quantity of mitochondria in RAA. (c) Representative electron microscopic images of autophagosomes and autophagic vacuoles in RAA (n = 5 per group, scale bar = 200 nm). The autophagosome containing mitochondria is marked with a single arrow. The autophagic vacuole is marked with double arrows. (e, f) Semiquantitative analysis of autophagosomes and autophagic vacuoles in RAA.  < 0.05,  < 0.01 vs the SR group. SR, sinus rhythm; AF, atrial fibrillation; RAA, right atrial appendage.

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