Human sinoatrial node structure: 3D microanatomy of sinoatrial conduction pathways.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Despite a century of extensive study on the human sinoatrial node (SAN), the structure-to-function features of specialized SAN conduction pathways (SACP) are still unknown and debated. We report a new method for direct analysis of the SAN microstructure in optically-mapped human hearts with and without clinical history of SAN dysfunction.

Methods

Two explanted donor human hearts were coronary-perfused and optically-mapped. Structural analyses of histological sections parallel to epicardium (∼13-21 μm intervals) were integrated with optical maps to create 3D computational reconstructions of the SAN complex. High-resolution fiber fields were obtained using 3D Eigen-analysis of the structure tensor, and used to analyze SACP microstructure with a fiber-tracking appr

SUBMITTER: Csepe TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4808362 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature