Three-dimensional cardiac architecture determined by two-photon microtomy.

ABSTRACT: Cardiac architecture is inherently three-dimensional, yet most characterizations rely on two-dimensional histological slices or dissociated cells, which remove the native geometry of the heart. We previously developed a method for labeling intact heart sections without dissociation and imaging large volumes while preserving their three-dimensional structure. We further refine this method to permit quantitative analysis of imaged sections. After data acquisition, these sections are assembled using image-processing tools, and qualitative and quantitative information is extracted. By examining the reconstructed cardiac blocks, one can observe end-to-end adjacent cardiac myocytes (cardiac strands) changing cross-sectional geometries, merging and separating from other strands. Quantitatively, r

SUBMITTER: Huang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2819332 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature