Name: optical mapping of langendorff-perfused rat hearts
Uploaded: 2009-08-11T19:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optical Mapping of Langendorff-perfused Rat Hearts at JoVE.com

This work is supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health (HL068915; HL088206) and contributions to the Cardiac Conduction Fund at Children's Hospital Boston.

Part 1: Prepare solutions and the isolated perfused heart system
<ol>
<li>On the morning of the experiment, 4.0 L of Krebs-Henseleit solution is prepared as previously described[5, 6].</li>
<li>11 mMol/L 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) is dissolved in 1.0 L of Krebs-Henseleit solution decanted from the perfusate prepared in step 1.1.</li>
<li>An additional 150 mL of Krebs-Henseleit is removed from the perfusate prepared in step 1.1 and mixed with 5 Mol/L di-8-ANEPPS (diluted from a 10 mMol/L stock dissolved ...

<ol>
	<li>Efimov, I. R., Nikolski, V. P., Salama, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optical+imaging+of+the+heart.">Optical imaging of the heart.</a> Circ Res. 95 (1), 21-33 (2004).</li><li>Hucker, W. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Images+in+cardiovascular+medicine.+Optical+mapping+of+the+human+atrioventricular+junction.">Images in cardiovascular medicine. Optical mapping of the human atrioventricular junction.</a> Circulation. 117 (11), 1474-147 (2008).</li><li>Entcheva, E., Bien, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Macroscopic+optical+mapping+of+excitation+in+cardiac+cell+networks+with+ultra-high+spatiotemporal+resolution.">Macroscopic optical mapping of excitation in cardiac cell networks with ultra-high spatiotemporal resolution.</a> Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 92 (2), 232-257 (2006).</li><li>Entcheva, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescence+imaging+of+electrical+activity+in+cardiac+cells+using+an+all-solid-state+system.">Fluorescence imaging of electrical activity in cardiac cells using an all-solid-state system.</a> IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 51 (2), 333-341 (2004).</li><li>Stamm, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+endotoxin-induced+alterations+in+myocardial+calcium+handling:+obligatory+role+of+cardiac+TNF-alpha.">Rapid endotoxin-induced alterations in myocardial calcium handling: obligatory role of cardiac TNF-alpha.</a> Anesthesiology. 95 (6), 1396-1405 (2001).</li><li>Choi, Y. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiac+conduction+through+engineered+tissue.">Cardiac conduction through engineered tissue.</a> Am J Pathol. 169 (1), 72-85 (2006).</li><li>Skrzypiec-Spring, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolated+heart+perfusion+according+to+Langendorff---still+viable+in+the+new+millennium.">Isolated heart perfusion according to Langendorff---still viable in the new millennium.</a> J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 55 (2), 113-126 (2007).</li><li>Fedorov, V. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Application+of+blebbistatin+as+an+excitation-contraction+uncoupler+for+electrophysiologic+study+of+rat+and+rabbit+hearts.">Application of blebbistatin as an excitation-contraction uncoupler for electrophysiologic study of rat and rabbit hearts.</a> Heart Rhythm. 4 (5), 619-626 (2007).</li></ol>

Removal of the heart from anesthetized rats must be performed rapidly to avoid myocardial ischemia. If ischemia or insufficient coronary perfusion occurs, the heart will likely develop arrhythmias and may become infarcted. Additionally, these hearts will show insufficient fluorescence emission for informative recordings and subsequent analyses. Before loading the dye, myocardial cells need to be adequately perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution to establish and maintain a physiologic electrolyte milieu for the stability ...

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<td>CardioCMOS-SM128f</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>RedShirt Imaging, Decatur, GA 30030 USA </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>CardioPlex Software</td>
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<td>RedShirt Imaging, Decatur, GA 30030 USA</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>LUXEON LED Light Source 460-490 nm </td>
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<td>Lumileds Lighting, US, LLC, San Jose, CA 95131 USA</td>
<td>LXHL-PB02</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>ECG Amplifier Type 689 Hugo Sachs Elektronik</td>
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<td>Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746 USA</td>
<td>730149</td>
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<td>SciMedia, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 USA </td>
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<td>SciMedia, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 USA</td>
<td>25 BM-8</td>
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<td>Mini Ball Joint Holder</td>
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<td>Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746 USA</td>
<td>BS4 73-0177</td>
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<td>Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746 USA</td>
<td>BS4 73-0160</td>
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<td>BM-6 Benchtop Vibration Isolation Platform</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Technology Inc., Inglewood, CA 90301</td>
<td>25 BM-6</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Monopolar ECG Electrode</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746 USA</td>
<td>BS4 73-0200</td>
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<td>Watson-Marlow Bredel Inc., Wilmington, MA 01887 USA</td>
<td>902.0016.016</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>MasterFlex Tubing</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>PharMed, Westlake, OH 44145 USA</td>
<td>06485-25</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>S48 Square Pulse Stimulator</td>
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<td>Grass Technologies, West Warwick, RI 02893 USA</td>
<td>Model S48</td>
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<td>SIU5 RF TRANSFORMER ISOLATION UNIT</td>
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<td>Grass Technologies, West Warwick, RI 02893 USA</td>
<td>Model SIU5</td>
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<td>5 Liter Water Jacketed Reservoir</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Radnoti Glass Technology Inc., Monrovia CA 91016 USA</td>
<td>120142-5</td>
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<td>2 Liter Water Jacketed Reservoir</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Radnoti Glass Technology Inc., Monrovia CA 91016 USA</td>
<td>120142-2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>0.5 Liter Water Jacketed Reservoir</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Radnoti Glass Technology Inc., Monrovia CA 91016 USA</td>
<td>120142-0</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>0.25 Liter Water Jacketed Reservoir</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Radnoti Glass Technology Inc., Monrovia CA 91016 USA </td>
<td>120142-025</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>10 ml Heating Coil</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Radnoti Glass Technology Inc., Monrovia CA 91016 USA</td>
<td>158822</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Compliance Bubble Trap</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Radnoti Glass Technology Inc., Monrovia CA 91016 USA</td>
<td>130149</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Luer Disconnect Cannula</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746 USA</td>
<td>72-1444</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>3-Way stopcock, FLL to MLT, No Port Covers</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746 USA</td>
<td>BS4 72-2630</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Thermocouple Thermometer</td>
<td>Equipment</td>
<td>Cole Parmer, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 USA</td>
<td>WU-91100-40</td>
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<td>Ultra Fine IT-Series Flexible Microprobe </td>
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<td>PhysiTemp Instruments Inc., Clifton, NJ 07013 USA</td>
<td>IT-24P</td>
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<td>Oscilloscope Tektronix TDS 1002</td>
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<td>Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, OR 97005 USA</td>
<td>TDS 1002B</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>2,3-Butanedione monoxime </td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma, St. Louis, MO 63132 USA</td>
<td>B0753</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Ketamine HCl</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Hospira Inc., Lake Forest, IL 60045 USA</td>
<td>RL-0065</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Xylazine</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Lloyd Inc., Iowa 51601 USA</td>
<td>LB15705A</td>
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<td>E-TOXA-CLEAN&reg;</td>
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<td>Sigma, St. Louis, MO 63132 USA </td>
<td>E9029</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Di-8-ANEPPS</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA</td>
<td>D-3167</td>
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optical mapping of langendorff-perfused rat hearts

Optical mapping of the cardiac surface with voltage-sensitive fluorescent dyes has become an important tool to investigate electrical excitation in experimental models that range in scale from cell cultures to whole-organs[1, 2]. Using state-of-the-art optical imaging systems, generation and propagation of action potentials during normal cardiac rhythm or throughout initiation and maintenance of arrhythmias can be visualized almost instantly[1]. The latest commercially-available systems can provide information at exceedingly high spatiotemporal resolutions and were based on custom-built equipment initially developed to overcome the obstacles imposed by more conventional electrophysiological methods[1]. Advancements in high-resolution and high-speed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) cameras and intensely-bright, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as well as voltage-sensitive dyes, optics, and filters have begun to make electrical signal acquisition practical for cardiovascular cell biologists who are more accustomed to working with microscopes. Although the newest generation of CMOS cameras can acquire 10,000 frames per second on a 16,384 pixel array, depending on the type of sample preparation, long-established fluorescence acquisition technologies such as photodiode arrays, laser scanning systems, and cooled charged-coupled device (CCD) cameras still have some distinct advantages with respect to dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio, and quantum efficiency[1, 3]. In the present study, Lewis rat hearts were perfused ex vivo with a crystalloid perfusate (Krebs-Henseleit solution) at 37&deg;C on a modified Langendorff apparatus. After a 20 minute stabilization period, the hearts were intermittently perfused with 11 mMol/L 2,3-butanedione monoxime to eliminate contraction-associated motion during image acquisition. For optical mapping, we loaded hearts with the fast-response potentiometric probe di-8-ANEPPS[4] (5 &mu;Mol/L) and briefly illuminated the preparation with 475&plusmn;15 nm excitation light. During a typical 2 second period of illumination, &gt;605 nm light emitted from the cardiac preparation was imaged with a high-speed CMOS camera connected to a horizontal macroscope. For this demonstration, hearts were paced at 300 beats per minute with a coaxial electrode connected to an isolated electrical stimulation unit. Simultaneous bipolar electrographic recordings were acquired and analyzed along with the voltage signals using readily-available software. In this manner, action potentials on the surface of Langendorff-perfused rat hearts can be visualized and registered with electrographic signals.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optical Mapping of Langendorff-perfused Rat Hearts at JoVE.com

Optical Mapping of Langendorff-perfused Rat Hearts

This article describes a high temporal and spatial resolution technique to optically image action potential movement on the surface of Langendorff-perfused rat hearts using a potentiometric dye (di-8-ANEPPS).

Optical mapping of the cardiac surface with voltage-sensitive fluorescent dyes has become an important tool to investigate electrical excitation in ...

optical-mapping-of-langendorff-perfused-rat-hearts

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Proper Care and Cleaning of the Microscope

Keeping the microscope optics clean is important for high-quality imaging. Dust, fingerprints, excess immersion oil, or mounting medium on or in a microscope causes reduction in contrast and resolution. DIC is especially sensitive to contamination and scratches on the lens surfaces. This protocol details the procedure for keeping the microscope clean.

Keeping the microscope optics clean is important for high-quality imaging. Dust, fingerprints, excess immersion oil, or mounting medium on or in a microscope causes reduction in contrast and resolution. DIC is especially sensitive to contamination and scratches on the lens surfaces. This protocol details the procedure for keeping the microscope clean.

Keeping the microscope optics clean is important for high-quality imaging. Dust, fingerprints, excess immersion oil, or mounting medium on or in a ...

Major Components of the Light Microscope

The light microscope is a basic tool for the cell biologist, who should have a thorough understanding of how it works, how it should be aligned for different applications, and how it should be maintained as required to obtain maximum image-forming capacity and resolution. The components of the microscope are described in detail here.

The light microscope is a basic tool for the cell biologist, who should have a thorough understanding of how it works, how it should be aligned for different applications, and how it should be maintained as required to obtain maximum image-forming capacity and resolution. The components of the microscope are described in detail here.

The light microscope is a basic tool for the cell biologist, who should have a thorough understanding of how it works, how it should be aligned for ...

Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscopy

Phase-contrast microscopy is often used to produce contrast for transparent, non light-absorbing, biological specimens. The technique was discovered by Zernike, in 1942, who received the Nobel prize for his achievement. DIC microscopy, introduced in the late 1960s, has been popular in biomedical research because it highlights edges of specimen structural detail, provides high-resolution optical sections of thick specimens including tissue cells, eggs, and embryos and does not suffer from the  phase halos  typical of phase-contrast images. This protocol highlights the principles and practical applications of these microscopy techniques.

Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast DIC Microscopy

This protocol highlights the principles and practical applications of Phase and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscopy

Phase-contrast microscopy is often used to produce contrast for transparent, non light-absorbing, biological specimens. The technique was discovered by ...

Semi-automated Optical Heartbeat Analysis of Small Hearts

We have developed a method for analyzing high speed optical recordings from Drosophila, zebrafish and embryonic mouse hearts (Fink, et. al., 2009). Our Semi-automatic Optical Heartbeat Analysis (SOHA) uses a novel movement detection algorithm that is able to detect cardiac movements associated with individual contractile and relaxation events. The program provides a host of physiologically relevant readouts including systolic and diastolic intervals, heart rate, as well as qualitative and quantitative measures of heartbeat arrhythmicity. The program also calculates heart diameter measurements during both diastole and systole from which fractional shortening and fractional area changes are calculated. Output is provided as a digital file compatible with most spreadsheet programs. Measurements are made for every heartbeat in a record increasing the statistical power of the output. We demonstrate each of the steps where user input is required and show the application of our methodology to the analysis of heart function in all three genetically tractable heart models.

We have developed a Semi-automated Optical Heartbeat Analysis method (SOHA) for analyzing high speed optical recordings from Drosophila, zebrafish and embryonic mouse hearts. We demonstrate the application of our methodology to the analysis of heart function in fruit fly and embryonic mouse hearts.

We have developed a method for analyzing high speed optical recordings from Drosophila, zebrafish and embryonic mouse hearts (Fink, et. al., 2009). Our ...

Single Cell Fate Mapping in Zebrafish

The ability to differentially label single cells has important implications in developmental biology. For instance, determining how hematopoietic, lymphatic, and blood vessel lineages arise in developing embryos requires fate mapping and lineage tracing of undifferentiated precursor cells. Recently, photoactivatable proteins which include: Eos1, 2, PAmCherry3, Kaede4-7, pKindling8, and KikGR9, 10 have received wide interest as cell tracing probes. The fluorescence spectrum of these photosensitive proteins can be easily converted with UV excitation, allowing a population of cells to be distinguished from adjacent ones. However, the photoefficiency of the activated protein may limit long-term cell tracking11. As an alternative to photoactivatable proteins, caged fluorescein-dextran has been widely used in embryo model systems7, 12-14. Traditionally, to uncage fluorescein-dextran, UV excitation from a fluorescence lamp house or a single photon UV laser has been used; however, such sources limit the spatial resolution of photoactivation. Here we report a protocol to fate map, lineage trace, and detect single labeled cells. Single cells in embryos injected with caged fluorescein-dextran are photoactivated with near-infrared laser pulses produced from a titanium sapphire femtosecond laser. This laser is customary in all two-photon confocal microscopes such as the LSM 510 META NLO microscope used in this paper. Since biological tissue is transparent to near-infrared irradiation15, the laser pulses can be focused deep within the embryo without uncaging cells above or below the selected focal plane. Therefore, non-linear two-photon absorption is induced only at the geometric focus to uncage fluorescein-dextran in a single cell. To detect the cell containing uncaged fluorescein-dextran, we describe a simple immunohistochemistry protocol16 to rapidly visualize the activated cell. The activation and detection protocol presented in this paper is versatile and can be applied to any model system. 
Note: The reagents used in this protocol can be found in the table appended at the end of the article.

A method is described to photoactivate single cells containing a caged fluorescent protein using two-photon absorption from a Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser oscillator. To fate map the photoactivated cell, immunohistochemistry is used. This technique can be applied to any cell type.

The ability to differentially label single cells has important implications in developmental biology. For instance, determining how hematopoietic, ...

Cell Labeling and Injection in Developing Embryonic Mouse Hearts

Testing the fate of embryonic or pluripotent stem cell-derivatives in in vitro protocols has led to controversial outcomes that do not necessarily reflect their in vivo potential. Preferably, these cells should be placed in a proper embryonic environment in order to acquire their definite phenotype. Furthermore, cell lineage tracing studies in the mouse after labeling cells with dyes or retroviral vectors has remained mostly limited to early stage mouse embryos with still poorly developed organs. To overcome these limitations, we designed standard and ultrasound-mediated microinjection protocols to inject various agents in targeted regions of the heart in mouse embryos at E9.5 and later stages of development. &#160;Embryonic explant or embryos are then cultured or left to further develop in utero. These agents include fluorescent dyes, virus, shRNAs, or stem cell-derived progenitor cells. Our approaches allow for preservation of the function of the organ while monitoring migration and fate of labeled and/or injected cells. These technologies can be extended to other organs and will be very helpful to address key biological questions in biology of development.

We describe a series of methods to inject dyes, DNA vectors, virus, and cells in order to monitor both cell fate and phenotype of endogenous and grafted cells derived from embryonic or pluripotent cells within mouse embryos at embryonic day (E)9.5 and later stages of development.

Testing the fate of embryonic or pluripotent stem cell-derivatives in in vitro protocols has led to controversial outcomes that do not necessarily reflect ...

Recovery of Adult Zebrafish Hearts for High-throughput Applications

Use of the zebrafish model system for studying development, regeneration, and disease is expanding toward use of adult hearts for cell dissociation and purification of RNA, DNA, and proteins. All of these applications demand the rapid recovery of significant numbers of zebrafish hearts to avoid gene regulatory, metabolic, and other changes that begin after death. Adult zebrafish hearts are also required for studying heart structure for a variety of mutants and for studying heart regeneration. However, the traditional zebrafish heart dissection is slow and difficult and requires specialized tools, making large-scale dissection of adult zebrafish hearts tedious. Traditional methods also harbor the risk of damaging the heart during the dissection. Here, we describe a method for dissection of adult zebrafish hearts that is fast, reproducible, and preserves heart architecture. Furthermore, this method does not require specialized tools, is painless for the zebrafish, can be performed on fresh or fixed specimens, and can be performed on zebrafish as young as one month old. The approach described expands the use of adult zebrafish for cardiovascular research.

Use of zebrafish for cardiovascular research is expanding towards research on adult hearts. For these applications, quick and simple isolation of cardiac tissues is key to avoid post-mortem changes and to obtain an adequate number of samples. Here, we describe a fast and reproducible method for dissecting adult zebrafish hearts.

Use of the zebrafish model system for studying development, regeneration, and disease is expanding toward use of adult hearts for cell dissociation and ...

Voltage and Calcium Dual Channel Optical Mapping of Cultured HL-1 Atrial Myocyte Monolayer

Optical mapping has proven to be a valuable technique to detect cardiac electrical activity on both intact ex vivo hearts and in cultured myocyte monolayers. HL-1 cells have been widely used as a 2-Dimensional cellular model for studying diverse aspects of cardiac physiology. However, it has been a great challenge to optically map calcium (Ca) transients and action potentials simultaneously from the same field of view in a cultured HL-1 atrial cell monolayer. This is because special handling and care is required to prepare healthy cells that can be electrically captured and optically mapped. Therefore, we have developed an optimal working protocol for dual channel optical mapping. In this manuscript, we have described in detail how to perform the dual channel optical mapping experiment. This protocol is a useful tool to enhance the understanding of action potential propagation and Ca kinetics in arrhythmia development.

This article describes the technique used to perform dual channel optical mapping in cultured HL-1 atrial cell monolayers. This unique protocol allows the simultaneous visualization of both calcium (Ca) and voltage (Vm) activity in the same area for the detailed detection and analysis of electrophysiological properties of culture monolayers.

Optical mapping has proven to be a valuable technique to detect cardiac electrical activity on both intact ex vivo hearts and in cultured myocyte ...

Optical Mapping of Intra-Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ and Transmembrane Potential in the Langendorff-perfused Rabbit Heart

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ handling plays a key role in normal excitation-contraction coupling and aberrant SR Ca2+ handling is known to play a significant role in certain types of arrhythmia. Because arrhythmias are spatially distinct, emergent phenomena, they must be investigated at the tissue level. However, methods for directly probing SR Ca2+ in the intact heart remain limited. This article describes the protocol for dual optical mapping of transmembrane potential (Vm) and free intra-SR [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]SR) in the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart. This approach takes advantage of the low-affinity Ca2+ indicator Fluo-5N, which has minimal fluorescence in the cytosol where intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) is relatively low but exhibits significant fluorescence in the SR lumen where [Ca2+]SR is in the millimolar range. In addition to revealing SR Ca2+ characteristics spatially across the epicardial surface of the heart, this approach has the distinct advantage of simultaneous monitoring of Vm, allowing for investigations into the bidirectional relationship between Vm and SR Ca2+ and the role of SR Ca2+ in arrhythmogenic phenomena.

Optical Mapping of Intra-Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ and Transmembrane Potential in the Langendorff-perfused Rabbit Heart

This article describes the detailed protocol and equipment necessary for dual optical mapping of transmembrane potential (Vm) and free intra-sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ in the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart. This method allows for direct observation and quantification of Vm and SR Ca2+ dynamics in the intact heart.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ handling plays a key role in normal excitation-contraction coupling and aberrant SR Ca2+ handling is known to play a ...

High-resolution Optical Mapping of the Mouse Sino-atrial Node

Sino-atrial node (SAN) dysfunctions and associated complications constitute important causes of morbidity in patients with cardiac diseases. The development of novel pharmacological therapies to cure these patients relies on the thorough understanding of both normal physiology and pathophysiology of the SAN. Among the studies of cardiac pacemaking, the mouse SAN is widely used due to its feasibility for modifications in the expression of different genes that encode SAN ion channels or calcium handling proteins. Emerging evidence from electrophysiological and histological studies has also proved the representativeness and similarity of the mouse SAN structure and functions to larger mammals, including the presence of specialized conduction pathways from the SAN to the atrium and a complex pacemakers' hierarchy within the SAN. Recently, the technique of optical mapping has greatly facilitated the exploration and investigation of the origin of excitation and conduction within and from the mouse SAN, which in turn has extended the understanding of the SAN and benefited clinical treatments of SAN dysfunction associated diseases. In this manuscript, we have described in detail how to perform the optical mapping of the mouse SAN from the intact, Langendorff-perfused heart and from the isolated atrial preparation. This protocol is a useful tool to enhance the understanding of mouse SAN physiology and pathophysiology.

Here, we present a protocol for optical mapping of electrical activity from the mouse right atrium and especially the sino-atrial node, at a high spatial and temporal resolution.