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Abstract
Dynamic imaging is a powerful approach to assess the function of a developing organ system. The heart is a dynamic organ that undergoes quick morphological and mechanical changes through early embryonic development. Defining the embyonic mouse heart's normal function is important for our own understanding of human heart development and will inform us on treatments and prevention of congenital heart defects (CHD). Traditional methods such as ultrasound or fluorescence-based microscopy are suitable for live dynamic imaging, are excellent to visualize structure and connect gene expression to phenotypes, but can be of low quality in resolving fine features and lack imaging depth and scale to fully appreciate organ morphogenesis. Additionally, previous methods can be limited in accommodating a live imaging apparatus capable of sustaining whole embryo development for extended periods time. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is unique in this circumstance because acquisition of three-dimensional images without contrast reagents, at single cell resolution make it a suitable modality to visualize fine structures in the developing embryo. OCT setups are highly customizable for live imaging because of the tethered imaging arm, due to its setup as a fiber-based interferometer. OCT allows for 4D (3D + time) functional imaging of living mouse embryos and can provide functional and mechanical information to ascertain how the heart's pump function changes through development. In this chapter, we will focus on how we use OCT to visualize live heart dynamics at different stages of development and provide mechanical information to reveal functional properties of the developing heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Lopez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irina V Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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2
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Lopez AL, Wang S, Larina IV. Optogenetic cardiac pacing in cultured mouse embryos under imaging guidance. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2020; 13:e202000223. [PMID: 32692902 PMCID: PMC8117926 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202000223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The mouse embryo is an established model for investigation of regulatory mechanisms controlling cardiac development and congenital heart defects in humans. Since cultured mouse embryos are very sensitive to any manipulations and environmental fluctuations, controlled alterations in mouse embryonic cardiac function are extremely challenging, which is a major hurdle in mammalian cardiac biomechanics research. This manuscript presents first optogenetic manipulation of cardiodynamics and hemodynamics in cultured mouse embryos. Optogenetic pacing was combined with 4D (3D + time) optical coherence tomography structural and Doppler imaging, demonstrating that embryonic hearts under optogenetic pacing can function efficiently and produce strong blood flows. This study demonstrates that the presented method is a powerful tool giving quick, consistent, reversible control over heart dynamics and blood flow under real time visualization, enabling various live cardiac biomechanics studies toward better understanding of normal cardiogenesis and congenital heart defects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L. Lopez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1 Castle Point Terrace, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
| | - Irina V. Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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3
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Lopez AL, Wang S, Larina IV. Embryonic Mouse Cardiodynamic OCT Imaging. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:E42. [PMID: 33020375 PMCID: PMC7712379 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The embryonic heart is an active and developing organ. Genetic studies in mouse models have generated great insight into normal heart development and congenital heart defects, and suggest mechanical forces such as heart contraction and blood flow to be implicated in cardiogenesis and disease. To explore this relationship and investigate the interplay between biomechanical forces and cardiac development, live dynamic cardiac imaging is essential. Cardiodynamic imaging with optical coherence tomography (OCT) is proving to be a unique approach to functional analysis of the embryonic mouse heart. Its compatibility with live culture systems, reagent-free contrast, cellular level resolution, and millimeter scale imaging depth make it capable of imaging the heart volumetrically and providing spatially resolved information on heart wall dynamics and blood flow. Here, we review the progress made in mouse embryonic cardiodynamic imaging with OCT, highlighting leaps in technology to overcome limitations in resolution and acquisition speed. We describe state-of-the-art functional OCT methods such as Doppler OCT and OCT angiography for blood flow imaging and quantification in the beating heart. As OCT is a continuously developing technology, we provide insight into the future developments of this area, toward the investigation of normal cardiogenesis and congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L. Lopez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Shang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA;
| | - Irina V. Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
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4
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Huang Y, Li M, Huang D, Qiu Q, Lin W, Liu J, Yang W, Yao Y, Yan G, Qu N, Tuchin VV, Fan S, Liu G, Zhao Q, Chen X. Depth-Resolved Enhanced Spectral-Domain OCT Imaging of Live Mammalian Embryos Using Gold Nanoparticles as Contrast Agent. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902346. [PMID: 31304667 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution and real-time visualization of the morphological changes during embryonic development are critical for studying congenital anomalies. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been used to investigate the process of embryogenesis. However, the structural visibility of the embryo is decreased with the depth due to signal roll-off and high light scattering. To overcome these obstacles, in this study, combined is a spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) with gold nanorods (GNRs) for 2D/3D imaging of live mouse embryos. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is used to confirm that GNRs can be effectively delivered to the embryos during ex vivo culture. OCT signal, image contrast, and penetration depth are all enhanced on the embryos with GNRs. These results show that after GNR treatment, more accurate spatial localization and better contrasting of the borders among organs can be observed on E9.5 and E10.5 mouse embryos. Furthermore, the strong optical absorbance of GNRs results in much clearer 3D images of the embryos, which can be used for calculating the heart areas and volumes of E9.5 and E10.5 embryos. These findings provide a promising strategy for monitoring organ development and detecting congenital structural abnormalities in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Minghui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Doudou Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Qi Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Wenzhen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jiyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Wensheng Yang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Youliang Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Guoliang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Ning Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Valery V Tuchin
- Research-Educational Institute of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Saratov, 410012, Russia
- Laboratory of Laser Diagnostics of Technical and Living Systems, Institute of Precision Mechanics and Control of the Russian Academy of Science, Saratov, 410028, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biophotonics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Shanhui Fan
- College of Life Information Science and Instrument Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Gang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Qingliang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Organ Transplantation Institute, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Williams AL, Bohnsack BL. Multi-Photon Time Lapse Imaging to Visualize Development in Real-time: Visualization of Migrating Neural Crest Cells in Zebrafish Embryos. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28829423 DOI: 10.3791/56214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital eye and craniofacial anomalies reflect disruptions in the neural crest, a transient population of migratory stem cells that give rise to numerous cell types throughout the body. Understanding the biology of the neural crest has been limited, reflecting a lack of genetically tractable models that can be studied in vivo and in real-time. Zebrafish is a particularly important developmental model for studying migratory cell populations, such as the neural crest. To examine neural crest migration into the developing eye, a combination of the advanced optical techniques of laser scanning microscopy with long wavelength multi-photon fluorescence excitation was implemented to capture high-resolution, three-dimensional, real-time videos of the developing eye in transgenic zebrafish embryos, namely Tg(sox10:EGFP) and Tg(foxd3:GFP), as sox10 and foxd3 have been shown in numerous animal models to regulate early neural crest differentiation and likely represent markers for neural crest cells. Multi-photon time-lapse imaging was used to discern the behavior and migratory patterns of two neural crest cell populations contributing to early eye development. This protocol provides information for generating time-lapse videos during zebrafish neural crest migration, as an example, and can be further applied to visualize the early development of many structures in the zebrafish and other model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antionette L Williams
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan
| | - Brenda L Bohnsack
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan;
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Wang S, Lakomy DS, Garcia MD, Lopez AL, Larin KV, Larina IV. Four-dimensional live imaging of hemodynamics in mammalian embryonic heart with Doppler optical coherence tomography. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2016; 9:837-47. [PMID: 26996292 PMCID: PMC5152918 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201500314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Hemodynamic analysis of the mouse embryonic heart is essential for understanding the functional aspects of early cardiogenesis and advancing the research in congenital heart defects. However, high-resolution imaging of cardiac hemodynamics in mammalian models remains challenging, primarily due to the dynamic nature and deep location of the embryonic heart. Here we report four-dimensional micro-scale imaging of blood flow in the early mouse embryonic heart, enabling time-resolved measurement and analysis of flow velocity throughout the heart tube. Our method uses Doppler optical coherence tomography in live mouse embryo culture, and employs a post-processing synchronization approach to reconstruct three-dimensional data over time at a 100 Hz volume rate. Experiments were performed on live mouse embryos at embryonic day 9.0. Our results show blood flow dynamics inside the beating heart, with the capability for quantitative flow velocity assessment in the primitive atrium, atrioventricular and bulboventricular regions, and bulbus cordis. Combined cardiodynamic and hemodynamic analysis indicates this functional imaging method can be utilized to further investigate the mechanical relationship between blood flow dynamics and cardiac wall movement, bringing new possibilities to study biomechanics in early mammalian cardiogenesis. Four-dimensional live hemodynamic imaging of the mouse embryonic heart at embryonic day 9.0 using Doppler optical coherence tomography, showing directional blood flows in the sinus venosus, primitive atrium, atrioventricular region and vitelline vein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Wang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, U.S
| | - David S Lakomy
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, U.S
| | - Monica D Garcia
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, U.S
| | - Andrew L Lopez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, U.S
| | - Kirill V Larin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, U.S
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd., 77204, Houston, TX 77204, U.S
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biophotonics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Irina V Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, U.S..
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7
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Abstract
The mouse is the mammalian model of choice for investigating cardiovascular biology, given our ability to manipulate it by genetic, pharmacologic, mechanical, and environmental means. Imaging is an important approach to phenotyping both function and structure of cardiac and vascular components. This review details commonly used imaging approaches, with a focus on echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging and brief overviews of other imaging modalities. We also briefly outline emerging imaging approaches but caution that reliability and validity data may be lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin K L Phoon
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Daniel H Turnbull
- Departments of Radiology and Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
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Wu C, Sudheendran N, Singh M, Larina IV, Dickinson ME, Larin KV. Rotational imaging optical coherence tomography for full-body mouse embryonic imaging. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2016; 21:26002. [PMID: 26848543 PMCID: PMC4748608 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.21.2.026002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been widely used to study mammalian embryonic development with the advantages of high spatial and temporal resolutions and without the need for any contrast enhancement probes. However, the limited imaging depth of traditional OCT might prohibit visualization of the full embryonic body. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a new methodology to enhance the imaging range of OCT in embryonic day (E) 9.5 and 10.5 mouse embryos using rotational imaging. Rotational imaging OCT (RI-OCT) enables full-body imaging of mouse embryos by performing multiangle imaging. A series of postprocessing procedures was performed on each cross-section image, resulting in the final composited image. The results demonstrate that RI-OCT is able to improve the visualization of internal mouse embryo structures as compared to conventional OCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wu
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Narendran Sudheendran
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Manmohan Singh
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Irina V. Larina
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77584, United States
| | - Mary E. Dickinson
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77584, United States
| | - Kirill V. Larin
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Texas 77204, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77584, United States
- Tomsk State University, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biophotonics, 36 Lenin Avenue, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Address all correspondence to: Kirill V. Larin, E-mail:
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Lopez AL, Wang S, Larin KV, Overbeek PA, Larina IV. Live four-dimensional optical coherence tomography reveals embryonic cardiac phenotype in mouse mutant. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2015; 20:090501. [PMID: 26385422 PMCID: PMC4681392 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.20.9.090501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Efficient phenotyping of developmental defects in model organisms is critical for understanding the genetic specification of normal development and congenital abnormalities in humans. We previously reported that optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with live embryo culture is a valuable tool for mouse embryo imaging and four-dimensional (4-D) cardiodynamic analysis; however, its capability for analysis of mouse mutants with cardiac phenotypes has not been previously explored. Here, we report 4-D (three-dimensional+time) OCT imaging and analysis of the embryonic heart in a Wdr19 mouse mutant, revealing a heart looping defect. Quantitative analysis of cardiac looping revealed a statistically significant difference between mutant and control embryos. Our results indicate that live 4-D OCT imaging provides a powerful phenotyping approach to characterize embryonic cardiac function in mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L. Lopez
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston 77030, United States
| | - Shang Wang
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston 77030, United States
| | - Kirill V. Larin
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston 77030, United States
- University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston 77204, United States
- Samara State Aerospace University, 34 Moskovskoye Shosse, Samara 443086, Russia
| | - Paul A. Overbeek
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, One Baylor Plaza, Houston 77030, United States
| | - Irina V. Larina
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, One Baylor Plaza, Houston 77030, United States
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