Intact Heart Imaging
Intact Heart Imaging - Related Videos
10:33
Local Field Fluorescence Microscopy: Imaging Cellular Signals in Intact Hearts
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Cited by 8 •
2017
In the heart, molecular events coordinate the electrical and contractile function of the organ. A set of local field fluorescence microscopy techniques presented here enables the recording of cellular variables in intact hearts. Identifying mechanisms defining the cardiac function is critical in understanding how the heart works under pathological situations.
12:06
Confocal Imaging of Single Mitochondrial Superoxide Flashes in Intact Heart or In Vivo
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Cited by 10 •
2013
Confocal scanning microscopy is applied for imaging single mitochondrial events in perfused heart or skeletal muscles in live animal. Real-time monitoring of single mitochondrial processes such as superoxide flashes and membrane potential fluctuations enables the evaluation of mitochondrial function in a physiologically relevant context and during pathological perturbations.
07:30
Imaging Cleared Embryonic and Postnatal Hearts at Single-cell Resolution
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Cited by 8 •
2016
We describe a protocol to volumetrically image fluorescent protein labeled cells deep inside intact embryonic and postnatal hearts. Utilizing tissue-clearing methods in combination with whole mount staining, single fluorescent protein-labeled cells inside an embryonic or postnatal heart can be imaged clearly and accurately.
17:51
In vivo Imaging of Intact Drosophila Larvae at Sub-cellular Resolution
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Cited by 21 •
2010
This protocol describes a reliable method for anesthetization and imaging of intact Drosophila melanogaster larvae. We have utilized the volatile anesthetic desflurane to allow for repetitive imaging at sub-cellular resolution and re-identification of structures for up to a few days1.
16:44
Born Normalization for Fluorescence Optical Projection Tomography for Whole Heart Imaging
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Cited by 15 •
2009
We suggest a Born normalized approach for Optical Projection Tomography (BnOPT) that accounts for the absorption properties of imaged samples to obtain accurate and quantitative fluorescence tomographic reconstructions. We use the proposed algorithm to reconstruct the fluorescence molecular probe distribution within small animal organs.
FAQs
Optical clearing reduces light scattering within the specimen, allowing imaging methods to collect information through more of the preserved heart. This is important because cardiac structures occupy different depths and remain spatially connected. By improving optical access, clearing supports serial image collection and more complete three-dimensional reconstruction of myocardial organization, vessels, valves, and conduction-related structures.
Three-dimensional reconstructions preserve the relationships among structures that can be difficult to interpret after conventional sectioning. Researchers can examine how myocardial regions, blood vessels, valves, and conduction-related structures are arranged relative to one another. This spatial context helps connect local cellular or molecular signals with the larger anatomical organization of the heart.
Both confocal and light-sheet microscopy can collect serial optical sections from a prepared heart. Combining these sections computationally produces a three-dimensional representation rather than a single surface view. The resulting dataset allows researchers to follow structures across depth and evaluate their continuity, arrangement, and interactions within the undissected specimen.
Preparation may include fixing the specimen, labeling selected structures or molecular signals, and reducing light scattering through optical clearing. The prepared heart is then examined by confocal or light-sheet microscopy to obtain serial optical sections. These sections can be reconstructed into a three-dimensional dataset for analysis of preserved cardiac architecture.
This approach is useful when a study depends on preserving cardiac architecture across the whole specimen. In biology, applications include examining heart development, regeneration, disease-related remodeling, and treatment effects. Because the method retains spatial relationships, it can reveal how changes in cells or molecular signals relate to the organization of larger cardiac structures.
The method can provide three-dimensional information about myocardial organization, blood vessels, valves, and conduction-related structures, along with labeled cellular or molecular signals when these are included during preparation. Such datasets help researchers assess structural arrangement and remodeling while limiting information loss that may occur when an intact heart is reduced to conventional tissue sections.