Mitochondrial dynamics in heart disease

► Mitochondrial fusion/fission has not been observed in normal adult cardiomyocytes (84). ► Genetic inhibition of mitochondrial fusion causes fragmentation and heart failure (84). ► Thus, mitochondrial fusion/fission is essential to normal cardiac health (75). ► Mitochondrial fission is associated with programmed cardiomyocyte death (74). ► Inhibiting mitochondrial fission may protect against cardiac injury (71).