Intrinsic Connective Tissue Abnormalities intheHeart Muscle ofCardiomyopathic Syrian Hamsters

le-sions, seemingly connectingthemto normalmuscle.Theseconnectivetissue abnormalitiesmaycontributeto the progressive loss ofventricular function thatoccurs in this model ofcardiomyopathy. They maypermit greater wall thinning thanwouldoccurwithfocalnecrosisalone,andtheymayincreasefocalmuralstiffness inthetetheredregions.Furtherinvestigationofthepathogenesisofthesechangesandtheirmechan-ical significance is indicated. (Am J Pathol 1987,127:327-334)