We thank the individuals who have donated their bodies for the advancement of education and research. We are grateful to the OneLegacy Foundation, which formed the basis for obtaining donor hearts for research. We are also grateful to Anthony A. Smithson and Arvin Roque-Verdeflor of the UCLA Translational Research Imaging Center (Department of Radiology) for their support in CT data acquisition. This project was supported by the UCLA Amara Yad Project. We are thankful to Drs. Kalyanam Shivkumar and Olujimi A. Ajijola for establishing and maintaining a human heart pipeline for research. We appreciate our Research Operations Manager, Amiksha S. Gandhi for her dedication to support our projects. This work was made possible by support from NIH grants OT2OD023848 &#38; P01 HL164311 and Leducq grant 23CVD04 to Kalyanam Shivkumar, the American Heart Association Career Development Award 23CDA1039446 to PH, and the UCLA Amara-Yad Project (https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/heart/arrhythmia/about-us/amara-yad-project). The GNEXT microPET/CT scanner used in this study was funded by an NIH Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research Grant (1 S10 OD026917-01A1).

This study used de-identified tissue samples collected from non-failing donor human hearts and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Samples were obtained from non-failing hearts that were rejected for transplantation. The hearts were pressure-perfused, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA), and imaged before tissue processing per the following methods. Figure 1 summarizes the flow chart of the order of the study. The details of the ...

Comprehensive 3D Analysis of Human Hearts from Micro to Macro Scales

<ol>
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The present study demonstrates&#160;the comprehensive pipeline to analyze samples obtained from whole human hearts. Representative results show&#160;micro- to macroscale anatomical examinations carried out routinely for a single heart. As a&#160;human heart sample is extremely precious, a multi-scale approach is ideal and effective so as not to waste any parts of the sample by applying multiple&#160;protocols for various purposes, including discovery in scientific research, improvement of clinical procedures, and anatomi...

As function follows form, understanding the architecture of the heart is fundamental for appreciation of its physiology. Although numerous investigations have revealed cardiac anatomy from micro- to macroscales1,2,3, multiple questions remain unresolved, especially those related to human cardiac anatomy. This is in part because basic studies focusing on functional anatomy generally utilized animal hearts4,5,6, which are often distinct from human hearts1,7,8. Furthermore, each individual study, even those using human heart samples, tends to focus on very specific structures, which renders it difficult to apply the findings in the context of the whole heart. This is even more so if the focused structures are at micro- or mesoscales, such as the perinexus9 and ganglionated plexuses10.
In this context, systemic structural study of the human heart rejected for transplantation provides a unique and rare opportunity to obtain a comprehensive atlas of cardiac structures in focus across microscopic and macroscopic scales11. Microscopic examination protocols include tissue clearing (modified immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional (3D) imaging of solvent-cleared organs, iDISCO+)12,13, and immunohistochemical staining. Mesoscopic examination protocols include stereoscopic dissection, macro photography, and micro-computed tomographic (CT) scanning. Macroscopic examination protocols include gross dissection14, photography (including anaglyphs and photogrammetry)15,16,17, CT, virtual dissection18, and 3D printing of the physically or virtually dissected or whole heart17. In preparation for&#160;macroscopic examination, pressure-perfusion fixation is&#160;performed to maintain the 3D architecture and physiologically relevant morphology of the heart14,19,20,21.&#160;The combined application of these techniques is unique and crucial to correlate distinct anatomic features in the context of the 3D architecture of the human heart.
As the opportunity to obtain a non-pathological human heart sample is extremely limited, a multi-scale approach described herein maximizes the use of the sample. By applying various procedures described below, representative results will illustrate to the reader how the findings can be utilized for multiple purposes, including discovery in scientific research11 (comprehensive analyses of cardiac innervation, distribution of ganglionated plexuses), improvement of clinical procedures (simulation for surgical and interventional approaches), and anatomical education (real 3D demonstration of cardiac anatomy).

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1x Phosphate buffered saline</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3813</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3D Viewer</td>
			<td>Microsoft</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>647 AffiniPure Donkey Anti-Rabbit IgG</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories</td>
			<td>711-605-152</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>647 AffiniPure Donkey Anti-Sheep IgG</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories</td>
			<td>713-605-147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AF Micro-NIKKOR 200 mm f/4D IF-ED lens</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Actin, &#945;-Smooth Muscle - Cy3 antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>C6198</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antigen Retrieval Buffer (100x EDTA Buffer, pH 8.0)</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab93680</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-PGP9.5 (protein gene product 9.5)</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab108986</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-TH (tyrosine hydrox ylase)</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab1542</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-VAChT (vesicular acetylcholine transporter)</td>
			<td>Synaptic Systems</td>
			<td>139 103</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Benzyl ether</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>108014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A4503-10G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cheetah 3D printer filament (95A), 1.75 mm</td>
			<td>NinjaTek</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverslip, 22 mm x 30mm, No. 1.5</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48393 151</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cy3 AffiniPure Donkey Anti-Rabbit IgG</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories</td>
			<td>711-165-152</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dichloromethane</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>270997-100ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl sulfoxide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D8418-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol, 100%</td>
			<td>Decon laboratories</td>
			<td>2701</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G7126-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GNEXT PET/CT</td>
			<td>SOFIE Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin sodium salt from porcine intestinal mucosa</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H3149-50KU</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Histodenz</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D2158-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen peroxide solution</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H1009-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imaging software</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>ZEN (black edition)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imaging software</td>
			<td>Oxford Instruments</td>
			<td>Imaris 10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iSpacer</td>
			<td>Sunjin Labs</td>
			<td>iSpacer 3mm</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KIRI Engine</td>
			<td>KIRI Innovation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laser scanning confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>LSM 880</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LEAD-2 - Vertical &#38; Multi-channels Peristaltic Pump</td>
			<td>LONGER</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lightview XL&#160;</td>
			<td>Brightech</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol (Certified ACS)</td>
			<td>Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>A412-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon D850</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NinjaTek NinjaFlex TPU @MK4</td>
			<td>NinjaTek</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Normal donkey serum</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories</td>
			<td>017-000-121</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Original Prusa MK4 3D printer</td>
			<td>Prusa Research</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PAP pen</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab2601</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde, 32%</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>15714-S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polycam</td>
			<td>Polycam</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Primary antibody</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PrusaSlicer 2.7.1</td>
			<td>Prusa Research</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SARA-Engine</td>
			<td>pita4 mobile LLC</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scaniverse</td>
			<td>Niantic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Secondary antibody</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SlowFade Gold Antiface Mountant</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>S36936</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium azide, 5% (w/v)</td>
			<td>Ricca Chemical Company</td>
			<td>7144.8-32</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SOMATOM Definition AS</td>
			<td>Siemens Healthcare</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Standard Field Surgi-Spec Telescopes,&#160;</td>
			<td>Designs for Vision</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stereomicroscope System SZ61</td>
			<td>OLYMPUS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>StereoPhoto Maker</td>
			<td>Free ware developed by Masuji Suto</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Superfrost Plus Microscope Slides, Precleaned</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-550-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T8787-50ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween-20</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P9416-100ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylene</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>534056-4L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ziostation2</td>
			<td>Ziosoft, AMIN</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

pipeline for multi-scale three-dimensional anatomic study of the human heart

Detailed study of non-failing human hearts rejected for transplantation provides a unique opportunity to perform structural analyses across microscopic and macroscopic scales. These techniques include tissue clearing (modified immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional (3D) imaging of solvent-cleared organs) and immunohistochemical staining. Mesoscopic examination procedures include stereoscopic dissection and micro-computed tomographic (CT) scanning. Macroscopic examination procedures include gross dissection, photography (including anaglyphs and photogrammetry), CT, and 3D printing of the physically or virtually dissected or whole heart. Before macroscopic examination, pressure-perfusion fixation may be performed to maintain the 3D architecture and physiologically relevant morphology of the heart. The application of these techniques in combination to study the human heart is unique and crucial in understanding the relationship between distinct anatomic features such as coronary vasculature and myocardial innervation in the context of the 3D architecture of the heart. This protocol describes the methodologies in detail and includes representative results&#160;to illustrate progress in the research of human cardiac anatomy.

Author Spotlight: Advancing Human Cardiac Anatomy Through Multi-Scale Analysis of Hearts

Pipeline for Multi-Scale Three-Dimensional Anatomic Study of the Human Heart

Knowing cardiac anatomy is fundamental to understanding cardiac physiology. Studies of functional anatomy have spanned the micro to macro scales, but have largely used animal hearts. Systematic study of donor human hearts rejected for transplantation provides a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive atlas that spans the microscopic to macroscopic scales.Through study of the human heart across different scales, we've demonstrated the exquisite innervation of the heart, identified cardiac anatomic structures to improve surgical and interventional approaches, and developed resources for anatomic education. The advantage of studying the human heart across different scales is that the detailed study of microscopic structures may be placed in the context of gross anatomy. The use of pressure profusion fixation maintains the physiologically relevant morphology of the heart.

Microscale examinations 
Applying tissue clearing allows imaging of larger volumes of tissue in 3D using confocal microscopy. In the heart, ganglia containing cardiac neurons and the neural patterning of myocardial innervation can be visualized (Figure 2). Figure 3 shows a confocal image of the human left ventricle myocardium immunostained for nerves and smooth muscle cells. Blood vessels are noted to traverse the myocardium, and numerous n...

This protocol presents a comprehensive pipeline to analyze samples obtained from human hearts that span the microscopic and macroscopic scales.

Detailed study of non-failing human hearts rejected for transplantation provides a unique opportunity to perform structural analyses across microscopic ...

pipeline-for-multi-scale-three-dimensional-anatomic-study-human

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

186 ビュー.  David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 心臓の解剖学を知ることは、心臓生理学を理解するための基本です。機能解剖学の研究は、ミクロスケールからマクロスケールまで広がっていますが、主に動物の心臓を使用しています。移植が拒否されたドナーのヒト心臓の体系的な研究は、ミクロスケールからマクロスケールまでの包括的なアトラスを開発するユニークな機会を提供します?...

ビデオ: 著者スポットライト:心臓のマルチスケール分析によるヒト心臓解剖学の進歩

This protocol presents a comprehensive pipeline to analyze samples obtained from human hearts that span the microscopic and macroscopic...

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advanced cardiac rhythm management by applying optogenetic multi-site photostimulation in murine hearts

Advanced Cardiac Rhythm Management by Applying Optogenetic Multi-Site Photostimulation in Murine Hearts

This work reports a method for controlling the cardiac rhythm of intact murine hearts of transgenic channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) mice using local photostimulation with a micro-LED array and simultaneous optical mapping of epicardial membrane...

light-sheet imaging to reveal cardiac structure in rodent hearts

Author Spotlight: Customized Light-Sheet Imaging for Investigating Myocardial Structures in Rodent Hearts

The protocol utilizes advanced light-sheet microscopy along with adapted tissue clearing methods to investigate intricate cardiac structures in rodent hearts, holding great potential for the understanding of cardiac morphogenesis and...

Light-Sheet Imaging to Reveal Cardiac Structure in Rodent Hearts

a multi-electrode array platform for modeling epilepsy using human pluripotent stem cell-derived brain assembloids

Author Spotlight: Advancing Genetic Epilepsy Studies with Multi-Electrode Array-Based Long-Term Electrophysiological Monitoring of Human Brain Assembloids

This protocol aims to stably plate dorsal-ventral fused assembloids on multi-electrode arrays for modeling epilepsy in...

Recording Network Activity in Brain Assembloids: Multi-Electrode Array Approach

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multi-scale analysis of bacterial growth under stress treatments

Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Growth Under Stress Treatments

This protocol allows a time-resolved description of bacterial growth under stress conditions at the single-cell and the cell population...

production of cardiac extracellular matrix from adult human fibroblasts for culture dish coating

Author Spotlight: Studying Cardiac Cell-Matrix Interactions In Vitro

Fibroblasts isolated from the adult human heart were cultured to confluence on gelatin-coated dishes to produce the myocardium-specific extracellular matrix. After decellularization, this substrate can be used for the culture and study of other cardiac cells and cell-matrix...

Generation of Myocardium-Mimicking Extra Cellular Matrix for Cell Culture

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in vitro culturing technique for studying cellular dynamics in zebrafish scales

Author Spotlight: Advancing Bone Cell Activity Research with Zebrafish Scales 

This protocol offers a method to study cellular dynamics using a simple in vitro culture technique. It provides an opportunity for zebrafish researchers and educators to study cellular processes, such as those related to bone homeostasis and basic cell biology, by visualizing fluorescent nuclei and apoptotic cells within the...

Removing Zebrafish Scales for Culturing and Bone Biology Studies

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microscopic varicocelectomy under local anesthesia as the treatment of varicocele

Author Spotlight: Advancing Varicocele Treatment Through Enhanced Surgical Techniques

Varicocele accounts for 35%-40% of infertility cases among men of reproductive age. The international standard treatment method is microscopic varicocelectomy, typically performed under general anesthesia. This study proposes and implements microscopic varicocelectomy under local anesthesia, which provides more humane care for patients and reduces the economic...

Microsurgical Varicocele Removal Under Local Anesthesia

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analysis of coronary vessels in cleared embryonic hearts

Analysis of Coronary Vessels in Cleared Embryonic Hearts

We present a protocol for the analysis of coronary vessels in whole embryonic murine hearts up to E15.5, using standard immunological staining methods followed by optical clearance and confocal microscopy. This technique enables visualization of blood vessels throughout the entire heart without the need for time-consuming analysis of serial...

echocardiographic assessment of cardiac anatomy and function in adult rats

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats

A non-invasive protocol for transthoracic echocardiography assessment of cardiac anatomy and function for adult rats is presented in the current study. The heart valves, all four cardiac chambers and the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta are studied in...

dissection and grading of ovarian development in wild-type female insects

Author Spotlight: Analysis of Ovarian Anatomy in Migratory Insects to Overcome Experimental Challenges 

The protocol demonstrates a simple and easy dissection method, suitable for wild-type migratory female insects captured with searchlight traps. This technique can significantly clarify the same species by comparing both reproductive tissues, namely the mating sac and ovarian development of wild-type female...

Dissection for Identifying Migratory Insects via Ovarian Reproductive Analysis

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blood sampling and hormone measurement for determining the stage in the ovarian cycle in marmosets

Author Spotlight: Advancing Primatology Through Germ Cell Research and Genetic Modification Techniques

This protocol describes blood and urine sampling for measuring progesterone/estradiol and chorionic gonadotropin levels to determine the ovarian cycle stage. The hormone levels are used to predict and determine the timing of ovulation and hormones are injected to regulate the ovarian cycle and oocyte...

Assessing Ovarian Cycle in Marmosets by Blood Collection and Hormone Analysis

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high-quality brain and bone marrow nuclei preparation for single nuclei multiome assays

Author Spotlight: Advancing Biomedical Research Through Single Cell Analysis 

The success of single-cell/single-nuclei transcriptomics and multi-omics largely depends on the quality of cells/nuclei. Therefore, isolating cells/nuclei from tissue and their purification must be highly standardized. This protocol describes the preparation of nuclei from the brain and bone marrow for downstream single-nuclei multiome assay.

High-Quality Sample Preparation for Multiome 10X Genomics Analysis

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assessing intracardiac vortices with high frame-rate echocardiography-derived blood speckle imaging in newborns

Author Spotlight: Advancing Neonatal Cardiac Diagnostics with Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging 

The present protocol uses echocardiography-derived blood speckle imaging technology to visualize intracardiac hemodynamics in newborns. The clinical utility of this technology is explored, the rotational body of fluid within the left ventricle (known as a vortex) is accessed, and its significance in understanding diastology is...

Advancements in Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging Technology

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modified langendorff perfusion for extended perfusion times of rodent cardiac grafts

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cardiovascular Research &#8212; Tailored Langendorff Perfusion Techniques for Improved Experimental Outcomes

This article demonstrates the feasibility of achieving longer perfusion times (4 h) of murine cardiac grafts without function loss by employing lower (30-35 mmHg) than physiological (60-80 mmHg) perfusion pressures during Langendorff.

Enhancing CVD Research with Modified Langendorff Perfusion

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swin-psaxialnet: an efficient multi-organ segmentation technique

Author Spotlight: Advancing Medical AI by Innovations in Deep Learning and Multimodal Algorithms

The present protocol describes an efficient multi-organ segmentation method called Swin-PSAxialNet, which has achieved excellent accuracy compared to previous segmentation methods. The key steps of this procedure include dataset collection, environment configuration, data preprocessing, model training and comparison, and ablation...

Swin-PSAxialNet: A Streamlined Approach for Segmenting Multiple Organs

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viral transgene expression in rodent hearts and the assessment of cardiac arrhythmia risk

Viral Transgene Expression in Rodent Hearts and the Assessment of Cardiac Arrhythmia Risk

The present protocol describes methods for transgene expression in rat and mouse hearts by direct intramyocardial injection of the virus under echocardiography guidance. Methods for the assessment of the susceptibility of hearts to ventricular arrhythmias by the programmed electrical stimulation of isolated, Langendorff-perfused hearts are also explained...

high-resolution respirometry to assess mitochondrial function in human spermatozoa

Author Spotlight: Advancing Male Infertility Research by Unraveling Sperm Metabolism and Mitochondrial Function 

The analysis of sperm mitochondrial function by high-resolution respirometry permits the measurement of the oxygen consumption of freely moving spermatozoa in a closed-chamber system. The technique can be applied to measure respiration in human spermatozoa, which provides information on sperm mitochondrial characteristics and...

Determining Respiration in Human Sperm Cells by High-Resolution Respirometry

assessment of cardiac function and energetics in isolated mouse hearts using 31p nmr spectroscopy

Assessment of Cardiac Function and Energetics in Isolated Mouse Hearts Using 31P NMR Spectroscopy

Langendorff-mode isolated heart perfusion, in conjunction with 31P NMR spectroscopy, combines the fields of biochemistry and physiology into one experiment.  The protocol allows for the dynamic measurement of high energy phosphate content and turnover in the heart while concurrently monitoring physiologic function.  When performed correctly, this is a valuable technique in the assessment of cardiac...

Assessment of Cardiac Function and Energetics in Isolated Mouse Hearts Using 31P NMR Spectroscopy

Enhanced 3D Confocal Imaging of Solvent-Cleared Human Heart Tissues

To begin, use a scalpel to dissect 4%paraformaldehyde-fixed human heart tissue to fit within the chamber for confocal microscopy. Dehydrate the heart specimens in a graded methanol series for one hour each at room temperature with agitation, followed by overnight immersion in a 66%dichloromethane and 33%methanol solution with agitation. The next day, bleach the sample by performing the indicated steps.Then rehydrate the specimen with a graded methanol series for one hour each with agitation. After immunolabeling, perform the following steps to prepare the tissue for imaging. Affix a chamber containing adhesive to a slide and apply nail polish around the perimeter of the chamber.Turn on the upright laser scanning confocal microscope equipped with a 5X lens. Using laser lines appropriate for the emission spectra of the fluorophores used, acquire Tile scan and z-stack images at a resolution of 1024 by 1024. At the microscale level, tissue clearing of heart samples allows visualization of ganglia containing cardiac neurons and the neural patterning of myocardial innervation.

Advanced Techniques in Cardiac Visualization from Gross Dissection to Virtual Reconstruction

After turning on a stereo microscope, perform delicate dissections on paraformaldehyde-fixed human heart tissue, focusing on structures such as the atrioventricular node, atrioventricular node artery, and cardiac nerve plexus. Place the heart sample on the scanner bed to acquire a CT image of the heart specimen. Using a 20 to 24 French surgical cannula, cannulate the superior vena cava for right heart perfusion.Then, occlude the inferior vena cava and another pulmonary artery with twine. Next, perform a progressive dissection of the heart tissue with photographic recordings at each stage of dissection. Using multiple light-emitting diode light panels set on C-stands with a wide black duvet and background cloth, photograph the heart with a digital single-lens reflex camera.Suspend the heart sample on a rotation table to obtain hundreds of multi-directional photographs with a smartphone. On Scaniverse and Polycam software, generate the 3D model of the heart in FBX format. Suspend the heart sample from a bar across the top of the container.Use a multi-detector row CT scanner to conduct CT scans of the heart. After generating virtual dissection images of the heart, visualize the non-enhanced walls, septa, and valves with virtual dissection to produce images similar to gross dissection.