Apoptosis and heart disorders

Papers on the significance of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in cardiovascular disorders development are reviewed. Some distinctive features of regulation and morphological manifestations of cardiomyocyte apoptosis are described. Although a great majority of cardiomyocytes are highly differentiated cells, apoptosis-related loss of cellular weight is noted in the number of pathological processes. Data on the role of apoptosis in myocardial ischemia in cardiomyopathies and in heart failure are presented.