<p>Sections of atrial wall from patients with sinus rhythm (A, B, D) and atrial fibrillation (C) showing a result of immunoperoxidase reaction for CD45. A) Epicardial and myocardial layer of atrial wall contains scattered as well as clustered (arrowhead) CD45-positive cells. Scale bar = 100μm. B) Endocardial layer with CD45-positive cells (arrowhead) next to the atrial lumen (L). Scale bar = 20μm. C) A section through the trabecular part of the atrial wall with CD45-positive cells in the myocardium (M) and endocardium (E). Scale bar = 50 μm. D) A detailed view on the atrial myocardium with CD45-positive cells having rather rounded (arrowhead) or elongated (arrow) cell shape. Scale bar 50 = μm. E) Frequency of CD45+ cells in the atrial myocardium of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and sinus rhythm (SR). An average number of CD45+ cells per square mm of cross-sectioned atrial myocardium is given +- SD. Right appendage–SR (n = 22), AF (n = 15); Left appendage—SR (n = 8), AF (n = 8); Left atrial free wall—SR (n = 4), AF (n = 8); Left atrial free wall + left appendage—SR (n = 12), AF (n = 16).</p
