Disassembly of myofibrils and potential imbalanced forces on Z-discs in cultured adult cardiomyocytes.

ABSTRACT: Myofibrils are the main protein structures that generate force in the beating heart. Myofibril disassembly is related to many physiological and pathological processes. This study investigated, in a cultured rat adult cardiomyocyte model, the effect of force imbalance on myofibril disassembly. The imbalance of forces that were exerted on Z-discs was induced by the synergistic effect of broken intercalated discs and actin-myosin interaction. Cardiomyocytes with well-preserved intercalated discs were isolated from adult rat ventricles. The ultrastructure of cardiomyocyte was observed using a customized two-photon excitation fluorescence and second harmonic generation imaging system. The contraction of cardiomyocytes was recorded with a high-speed CCD camera, and the movement of cellular compo

SUBMITTER: Liu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5642039 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature