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Wang S, Wang Y, Li Z, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Varray F. Investigating the three-dimensional myocardial micro-architecture in the laminar structure using X-ray phase-contrast microtomography. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14329. [PMID: 38907041 PMCID: PMC11192766 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65371-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive grasp of the myocardial micro-architecture is essential for understanding diverse heart functions. This study aimed to investigate three-dimensional (3D) cardiomyocyte arrangement in the laminar structure using X-ray phase-contrast microtomography. Using the ID-19 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, we imaged human left ventricular (LV) wall transparietal samples and reconstructed them with an isotropic voxel edge length of 3.5 μm. From the reconstructed volumes, we extracted different regions to analyze the orientation distribution of local cardiomyocyte aggregates, presenting findings in terms of helix and intrusion angles. In regions containing one sheetlet population, we observed cardiomyocyte aggregates running along the local LV wall's radial direction at the border of sheetlets, branching and merging into a complex network around connecting points of different sheetlets, and bending to accommodate vessel passages. In regions with two sheetlet populations, the helix angle of local cardiomyocyte aggregates experiences a nonmonotonic change, and some cardiomyocyte aggregates run along the local radial direction. X-ray phase-contrast microtomography is a valuable technique for investigating the 3D local myocardial architecture at microscopic level. The arrangement of local cardiomyocyte aggregates in the LV wall proves to be both regional and complex, intricately linked to the local laminar structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunli Wang
- School of Instrumentation Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150080, China.
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Medical Engineering, Strategic Support Force Xingcheng Special Duty Sanatorium, Xingcheng, 125100, China
| | - Zhaorui Li
- School of Instrumentation Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Yifei Zhao
- System Engineering Research Department, Beijing Institute of Aerospace Automatic Controls, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- System Engineering Research Department, Beijing Institute of Aerospace Automatic Controls, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - François Varray
- Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR5220, Inserm U1206, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 69100, Villeurbanne, France
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2
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Wang S, Li Z, Yuan F, Varray F. Use of the intrusion angle to describe the radial orientation of local cardiomyocytes in the left ventricle. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21650. [PMID: 37990764 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The projected transverse angle and the nonprojected intrusion angle can be used to describe the radial orientation of local cardiomyocytes in the left ventricle wall, although to date their descriptive relevance has not been demonstrated. This paper compares the evolution of the transverse angle and the intrusion angle in five left ventricle wall samples, and investigates in more detail their respective behaviors when the nonprojected helical angle varies. We show that the intrusion angle avoids the "projection" effect, and contrary to the transverse angle, it remains stable whatever the values taken by the nonprojected helical angle, even when this approaches 90°. The intrusion angle is the better choice, rather than the transverse angle, in describing the radial orientation of local cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, the oscillation of the intrusion angle in the samples is assessed, whose results indicate that the intrusion angle's oscillation amplitude and period are regional and related to the local tissue architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunli Wang
- School of Instrumentation Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Precision Instrument Research Institute, Harbin, China
| | - Zhaorui Li
- School of Instrumentation Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Precision Instrument Research Institute, Harbin, China
| | - Feng Yuan
- School of Instrumentation Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Precision Instrument Research Institute, Harbin, China
| | - François Varray
- Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220 U1294, CREATIS (Centre de Researche en Acquisition et Traitement de I'Image pour la Santé), Lyon, France
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3
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Wang S, Cui J, Jing Y, Varray F. Oscillation of the orientation of cardiomyocyte aggregates in human left ventricle free wall. J Anat 2023; 242:373-386. [PMID: 36395157 PMCID: PMC9919520 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Orientation of local cardiomyocyte aggregates in the human left ventricle free wall experiences an oscillation in the laminar structure regions, besides its gradual change trend. We described this oscillation using five transmural samples imaged at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility with an isotropic voxel size of 3.5 × 3.5 × 3.5 μm3 . In the reconstructed volume of each sample, we manually selected a region containing a regular laminar structure as the region of interest and measured the distribution of the orientation of local cardiomyocyte aggregates inside using a Fourier-based method. Then, we extracted the gradual change part of the orientation of cardiomyocyte aggregates with a three-dimensional centered Gaussian filter and measured the angle between the original orientation vector of local cardiomyocyte aggregates and its gradual change part. Further, we assessed the measured angles in different local coordinates. The results indicate that the oscillation amplitude of the orientation of cardiomyocyte aggregates is regional in the left ventricle wall, which may promote our understanding of the rearrangement mechanism of the cardiomyocyte aggregates and provide a new biomarker to study the heart physiological status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunli Wang
- Center of Ultra-Precision Optoelectronic Instrument Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.,Key Lab of Ultra-Precision Intelligent Instrumentation (Harbin Institute of Technology), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Junning Cui
- Center of Ultra-Precision Optoelectronic Instrument Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.,Key Lab of Ultra-Precision Intelligent Instrumentation (Harbin Institute of Technology), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yuhan Jing
- Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220 U1294, Lyon, France
| | - François Varray
- Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220 U1294, Lyon, France
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4
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Dejea H, Schlepütz CM, Méndez-Carmona N, Arnold M, Garcia-Canadilla P, Longnus SL, Stampanoni M, Bijnens B, Bonnin A. A tomographic microscopy-compatible Langendorff system for the dynamic structural characterization of the cardiac cycle. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1023483. [PMID: 36620622 PMCID: PMC9815149 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1023483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cardiac architecture has been extensively investigated ex vivo using a broad spectrum of imaging techniques. Nevertheless, the heart is a dynamic system and the structural mechanisms governing the cardiac cycle can only be unveiled when investigating it as such. Methods This work presents the customization of an isolated, perfused heart system compatible with synchrotron-based X-ray phase contrast imaging (X-PCI). Results Thanks to the capabilities of the developed setup, it was possible to visualize a beating isolated, perfused rat heart for the very first time in 4D at an unprecedented 2.75 μm pixel size (10.6 μm spatial resolution), and 1 ms temporal resolution. Discussion The customized setup allows high-spatial resolution studies of heart architecture along the cardiac cycle and has thus the potential to serve as a tool for the characterization of the structural dynamics of the heart, including the effects of drugs and other substances able to modify the cardiac cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Dejea
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Hector Dejea ✉
| | | | - Natalia Méndez-Carmona
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland,Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Arnold
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland,Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Garcia-Canadilla
- BCNatal-Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Cardiovascular Diseases and Child Development, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Sarah L. Longnus
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland,Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marco Stampanoni
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bart Bijnens
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain,Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anne Bonnin
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
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5
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Wilson AJ, Sands GB, LeGrice IJ, Young AA, Ennis DB. Myocardial mesostructure and mesofunction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 323:H257-H275. [PMID: 35657613 PMCID: PMC9273275 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00059.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The complex and highly organized structural arrangement of some five billion cardiomyocytes directs the coordinated electrical activity and mechanical contraction of the human heart. The characteristic transmural change in cardiomyocyte orientation underlies base-to-apex shortening, circumferential shortening, and left ventricular torsion during contraction. Individual cardiomyocytes shorten ∼15% and increase in diameter ∼8%. Remarkably, however, the left ventricular wall thickens by up to 30-40%. To accommodate this, the myocardium must undergo significant structural rearrangement during contraction. At the mesoscale, collections of cardiomyocytes are organized into sheetlets, and sheetlet shear is the fundamental mechanism of rearrangement that produces wall thickening. Herein, we review the histological and physiological studies of myocardial mesostructure that have established the sheetlet shear model of wall thickening. Recent developments in tissue clearing techniques allow for imaging of whole hearts at the cellular scale, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can image the myocardium at the mesoscale (100 µm to 1 mm) to resolve cardiomyocyte orientation and organization. Through histology, cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and other modalities, mesostructural sheetlets have been confirmed in both animal and human hearts. Recent in vivo cardiac DTI methods have measured reorientation of sheetlets during the cardiac cycle. We also examine the role of pathological cardiac remodeling on sheetlet organization and reorientation, and the impact this has on ventricular function and dysfunction. We also review the unresolved mesostructural questions and challenges that may direct future work in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Wilson
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Gregory B Sands
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ian J LeGrice
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alistair A Young
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel B Ennis
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California
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6
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Magat J, Yon M, Bihan-Poudec Y, Ozenne V. A groupwise registration and tractography framework for cardiac myofiber architecture description by diffusion MRI: An application to the ventricular junctions. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271279. [PMID: 35849598 PMCID: PMC9292118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Knowledge of the normal myocardial–myocyte orientation could theoretically allow the definition of relevant quantitative biomarkers in clinical routine to diagnose heart pathologies. A whole heart diffusion tensor template representative of the global myofiber organization over species is therefore crucial for comparisons across populations. In this study, we developed a groupwise registration and tractography framework to resolve the global myofiber arrangement of large mammalian sheep hearts. To demonstrate the potential application of the proposed method, a novel description of sub-regions in the intraventricular septum is presented. Methods Three explanted sheep (ovine) hearts (size ~12×8×6 cm3, heart weight ~ 150 g) were perfused with contrast agent and fixative and imaged in a 9.4T magnet. A group-wise registration of high-resolution anatomical and diffusion-weighted images were performed to generate anatomical and diffusion tensor templates. Diffusion tensor metrics (eigenvalues, eigenvectors, fractional anisotropy …) were computed to provide a quantitative and spatially-resolved analysis of cardiac microstructure. Then tractography was performed using deterministic and probabilistic algorithms and used for different purposes: i) Visualization of myofiber architecture, ii) Segmentation of sub-area depicting the same fiber organization, iii) Seeding and Tract Editing. Finally, dissection was performed to confirm the existence of macroscopic structures identified in the diffusion tensor template. Results The template creation takes advantage of high-resolution anatomical and diffusion-weighted images obtained at an isotropic resolution of 150 μm and 600 μm respectively, covering ventricles and atria and providing information on the normal myocardial architecture. The diffusion metric distributions from the template were found close to the one of the individual samples validating the registration procedure. Small new sub-regions exhibiting spatially sharp variations in fiber orientation close to the junctions of the septum and ventricles were identified. Each substructure was defined and represented using streamlines. The existence of a fiber-bundles in the posterior junction was validated by anatomical dissection. A complex structural organization of the anterior junction in comparison to the posterior junction was evidenced by the high-resolution acquisition. Conclusions A new framework combining cardiac template generation and tractography was applied on the whole sheep heart. The framework can be used for anatomical investigation, characterization of microstructure and visualization of myofiber orientation across samples. Finally, a novel description of the ventricular junction in large mammalian sheep hearts was proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Magat
- IHU Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Foundation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
- Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, U1045, Bordeaux, France
- INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, U1045, Bordeaux, France
| | - Maxime Yon
- IHU Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Foundation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
- Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, U1045, Bordeaux, France
- INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, U1045, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yann Bihan-Poudec
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Bron, France
| | - Valéry Ozenne
- IHU Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Foundation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
- Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, U1045, Bordeaux, France
- INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, U1045, Bordeaux, France
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR 5536, CNRS/Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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7
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Rodriguez Padilla J, Petras A, Magat J, Bayer J, Bihan-Poudec Y, El-Hamrani D, Ramlugun G, Neic A, Augustin C, Vaillant F, Constantin M, Benoist D, Pourtau L, Dubes V, Rogier J, Labrousse L, Bernus O, Quesson B, Haissaguerre M, Gsell M, Plank G, Ozenne V, Vigmond E. Impact of Intraventricular Septal Fiber Orientation on Cardiac Electromechanical Function. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 322:H936-H952. [PMID: 35302879 PMCID: PMC9109800 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00050.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fiber direction is an important factor determining the propagation of electrical activity, as well as the development of mechanical force. In this article, we imaged the ventricles of several species with special attention to the intraventricular septum to determine the functional consequences of septal fiber organization. First, we identified a dual-layer organization of the fiber orientation in the intraventricular septum of ex vivo sheep hearts using diffusion tensor imaging at high field MRI. To expand the scope of the results, we investigated the presence of a similar fiber organization in five mammalian species (rat, canine, pig, sheep, and human) and highlighted the continuity of the layer with the moderator band in large mammalian species. We implemented the measured septal fiber fields in three-dimensional electromechanical computer models to assess the impact of the fiber orientation. The downward fibers produced a diamond activation pattern superficially in the right ventricle. Electromechanically, there was very little change in pressure volume loops although the stress distribution was altered. In conclusion, we clarified that the right ventricular septum has a downwardly directed superficial layer in larger mammalian species, which can have modest effects on stress distribution. NEW & NOTEWORTHY A dual-layer organization of the fiber orientation in the intraventricular septum was identified in ex vivo hearts of large mammals. The RV septum has a downwardly directed superficial layer that is continuous with the moderator band. Electrically, it produced a diamond activation pattern. Electromechanically, little change in pressure volume loops were noticed but stress distribution was altered. Fiber distribution derived from diffusion tensor imaging should be considered for an accurate strain and stress analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Argyrios Petras
- Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Linz, Austria
| | - Julie Magat
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jason Bayer
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, IMB, UMR 5251, Talence, France
| | - Yann Bihan-Poudec
- Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, France
| | - Dounia El-Hamrani
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Girish Ramlugun
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aurel Neic
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christoph Augustin
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Fanny Vaillant
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marion Constantin
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - David Benoist
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Line Pourtau
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Virginie Dubes
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - Olivier Bernus
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Bruno Quesson
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,INSERM, Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Matthias Gsell
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gernot Plank
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Division of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Valéry Ozenne
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR 5536, CNRS/Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Edward Vigmond
- Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Pessac-Bordeaux, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, IMB, UMR 5251, Talence, France
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8
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Holz D, Du'o'ng MT, Martonová D, Alkassar M, Leyendecker S. A Transmural Path Model Improves the Definition of the Orthotropic Tissue Structure in Heart Simulations. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:1116030. [PMID: 34423814 DOI: 10.1115/1.4052219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In the past decades, the structure of the heart, human as well as other species, has been explored in a detailed way, e.g., via histological studies or diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Nevertheless, the assignment of the characteristic orthotropic structure in a patient-specific finite element model remains a challenging task. Various types of rule-based models, which define the local fiber and sheet orientation depending on the transmural depth, have been developed. However, the correct assessment of the transmural depth is not trivial. Its accuracy has a substantial influence on the overall mechanical and electrical properties in rule-based models. The main purpose of this study is the development of a finite element-based approach to accurately determine the transmural depth on a general unstructured grid. Instead of directly using the solution of the Laplace problem as the transmural depth, we make use of a well-established model for the assessment of the transmural thickness. It is based on two hyperbolic first-order partial differential equations for the definition of a transmural path, whereby the transmural thickness is defined as the arc length of this path. Subsequently, the transmural depth is determined based on the position on the transmural path. Originally, the partial differential equations were solved via finite differences on structured grids. In order to circumvent the need of two grids and mapping between the structured (to determine the transmural depth) and unstructured (electromechanical heart simulation) grids, we solve the equations directly on the same unstructured tetrahedral mesh. We propose a finite-element-based discontinuous Galerkin approach. Based on the accurate transmural depth, we assign the local material orientation of the orthotropic tissue structure in a usual fashion. We show that this approach leads to a more accurate definition of the transmural depth. Furthermore, for the left ventricle, we propose functions for the transmural fiber and sheet orientation by fitting them to literature-based diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging data. The proposed functions provide a distinct improvement compared to existing rules from the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Holz
- Institute of Applied Dynamics (LTD), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Minh Tuấn Du'o'ng
- Institute of Applied Dynamics (LTD), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Bavaria, Germany; School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Denisa Martonová
- Institute of Applied Dynamics (LTD), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Muhannad Alkassar
- Pediatric Cardiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Sigrid Leyendecker
- Institute of Applied Dynamics (LTD), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Bavaria, Germany
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9
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Giardini F, Lazzeri E, Vitale G, Ferrantini C, Costantini I, Pavone FS, Poggesi C, Bocchi L, Sacconi L. Quantification of Myocyte Disarray in Human Cardiac Tissue. Front Physiol 2021; 12:750364. [PMID: 34867455 PMCID: PMC8635020 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.750364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper three-dimensional (3D)-cardiomyocyte orientation is important for an effective tension production in cardiac muscle. Cardiac diseases can cause severe remodeling processes in the heart, such as cellular misalignment, that can affect both the electrical and mechanical functions of the organ. To date, a proven methodology to map and quantify myocytes disarray in massive samples is missing. In this study, we present an experimental pipeline to reconstruct and analyze the 3D cardiomyocyte architecture in massive samples. We employed tissue clearing, staining, and advanced microscopy techniques to detect sarcomeres in relatively large human myocardial strips with micrometric resolution. Z-bands periodicity was exploited in a frequency analysis approach to extract the 3D myofilament orientation, providing an orientation map used to characterize the tissue organization at different spatial scales. As a proof-of-principle, we applied the proposed method to healthy and pathologically remodeled human cardiac tissue strips. Preliminary results suggest the reliability of the method: strips from a healthy donor are characterized by a well-organized tissue, where the local disarray is log-normally distributed and slightly depends on the spatial scale of analysis; on the contrary, pathological strips show pronounced tissue disorganization, characterized by local disarray significantly dependent on the spatial scale of analysis. A virtual sample generator is developed to link this multi-scale disarray analysis with the underlying cellular architecture. This approach allowed us to quantitatively assess tissue organization in terms of 3D myocyte angular dispersion and may pave the way for developing novel predictive models based on structural data at cellular resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Giardini
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Erica Lazzeri
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giulia Vitale
- Division of Physiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Ferrantini
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,Division of Physiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Irene Costantini
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco S Pavone
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Corrado Poggesi
- Division of Physiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Bocchi
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,Department of Information Engineering, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sacconi
- Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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10
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Wang S, Varray F, Liu W, Clarysse P, Magnin IE. Measurement of local orientation of cardiomyocyte aggregates in human left ventricle free wall samples using X-ray phase-contrast microtomography. Med Image Anal 2021; 75:102269. [PMID: 34775279 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2021.102269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Most cardiomyocytes in the left ventricle wall are grouped in aggregates of four to five units that are quasi-parallel to each other. When one or more "cardiomyocyte aggregates" are delimited by two cleavage planes, this defines a "sheetlet" that can be considered as a "work unit" that contributes to the thickening of the wall during the cardiac cycle. In this paper, we introduce the skeleton method to measure the local three-dimensional (3D) orientation of cardiomyocyte aggregates in the sheetlets in three steps: data segmentation; extraction of the skeleton of the sheetlets; and calculation of the local orientation of the cardiomyocyte aggregates inside the sheetlets. These data include a series of virtual tissue volumes and five transmural human left ventricle free wall samples, imaged with 3D synchrotron radiation phase-contrast microtomography, and reconstructed with a 3.5×3.5×3.5μm3 voxel size. We computed the local orientation of the cardiomyocyte aggregates inside the sheetlets with a working window of 112×112×112μm3 in size. These data demonstrate that the skeleton method can provide accurate 3D measurements and reliable screening of the 3D evolution of the orientation of cardiomyocyte aggregates within the sheetlets. We showed that in regions that contain one population of quasi-parallel sheetlets, the orientation of the cardiomyocyte aggregates undergo "oscillations" along the perpendicular direction of the sheetlets. In regions that contain two populations of sheetlets with a different angular range, we demonstrate some discontinuity of the helix angle of the cardiomyocyte aggregates at the interface between the two populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunli Wang
- School of Instrumentation Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin 150001, China; Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1294, F-69621, Lyon, France.
| | - François Varray
- Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1294, F-69621, Lyon, France.
| | - Wanyu Liu
- Sino European School of Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Patrick Clarysse
- Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1294, F-69621, Lyon, France.
| | - Isabelle E Magnin
- Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1294, F-69621, Lyon, France.
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11
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Comprehensive assessment of myocardial remodeling in ischemic heart disease by synchrotron propagation based X-ray phase contrast imaging. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14020. [PMID: 34234175 PMCID: PMC8263575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular research is in an ongoing quest for a superior imaging method to integrate gross-anatomical information with microanatomy, combined with quantifiable parameters of cardiac structure. In recent years, synchrotron radiation-based X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging (X-PCI) has been extensively used to characterize soft tissue in detail. The objective was to use X-PCI to comprehensively quantify ischemic remodeling of different myocardial structures, from cell to organ level, in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction-induced remodeling was recreated in a well-established rodent model. Ex vivo rodent hearts were imaged by propagation based X-PCI using two configurations resulting in 5.8 µm and 0.65 µm effective pixel size images. The acquired datasets were used for a comprehensive assessment of macrostructural changes including the whole heart and vascular tree morphology, and quantification of left ventricular myocardial thickness, mass, volume, and organization. On the meso-scale, tissue characteristics were explored and compared with histopathological methods, while microstructural changes were quantified by segmentation of cardiomyocytes and calculation of cross-sectional areas. Propagation based X-PCI provides detailed visualization and quantification of morphological changes on whole organ, tissue, vascular as well as individual cellular level of the ex vivo heart, with a single, non-destructive 3D imaging modality.
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12
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Leyssens L, Pestiaux C, Kerckhofs G. A Review of Ex Vivo X-ray Microfocus Computed Tomography-Based Characterization of the Cardiovascular System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3263. [PMID: 33806852 PMCID: PMC8004599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular malformations and diseases are common but complex and often not yet fully understood. To better understand the effects of structural and microstructural changes of the heart and the vasculature on their proper functioning, a detailed characterization of the microstructure is crucial. In vivo imaging approaches are noninvasive and allow visualizing the heart and the vasculature in 3D. However, their spatial image resolution is often too limited for microstructural analyses, and hence, ex vivo imaging is preferred for this purpose. Ex vivo X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) is a rapidly emerging high-resolution 3D structural imaging technique often used for the assessment of calcified tissues. Contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) or phase-contrast microCT (PC-CT) improve this technique by additionally allowing the distinction of different low X-ray-absorbing soft tissues. In this review, we present the strengths of ex vivo microCT, CE-CT and PC-CT for quantitative 3D imaging of the structure and/or microstructure of the heart, the vasculature and their substructures in healthy and diseased state. We also discuss their current limitations, mainly with regard to the contrasting methods and the tissue preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Leyssens
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Camille Pestiaux
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
- Department of Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Dejea H, Bonnin A, Cook AC, Garcia-Canadilla P. Cardiac multi-scale investigation of the right and left ventricle ex vivo: a review. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2020; 10:1701-1717. [PMID: 33224784 DOI: 10.21037/cdt-20-269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The heart is a complex multi-scale system composed of components integrated at the subcellular, cellular, tissue and organ levels. The myocytes, the contractile elements of the heart, form a complex three-dimensional (3D) network which enables propagation of the electrical signal that triggers the contraction to efficiently pump blood towards the whole body. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a major cause of mortality in developed countries, often lead to cardiovascular remodeling affecting cardiac structure and function at all scales, from myocytes and their surrounding collagen matrix to the 3D organization of the whole heart. As yet, there is no consensus as to how the myocytes are arranged and packed within their connective tissue matrix, nor how best to image them at multiple scales. Cardiovascular imaging is routinely used to investigate cardiac structure and function as well as for the evaluation of cardiac remodeling in CVDs. For a complete understanding of the relationship between structural remodeling and cardiac dysfunction in CVDs, multi-scale imaging approaches are necessary to achieve a detailed description of ventricular architecture along with cardiac function. In this context, ventricular architecture has been extensively studied using a wide variety of imaging techniques: ultrasound (US), optical coherence tomography (OCT), microscopy (confocal, episcopic, light sheet, polarized light), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and, more recently, synchrotron X-ray phase contrast imaging (SR X-PCI). Each of these techniques have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, relating to sample size, preparation, resolution, 2D/3D capabilities, use of contrast agents and possibility of performing together with in vivo studies. Therefore, the combination of different imaging techniques to investigate the same sample, thus taking advantage of the strengths of each method, could help us to extract the maximum information about ventricular architecture and function. In this review, we provide an overview of available and emerging cardiovascular imaging techniques for assessing myocardial architecture ex vivo and discuss their utility in being able to quantify cardiac remodeling, in CVDs, from myocyte to whole organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Dejea
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Villigen, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anne Bonnin
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Andrew C Cook
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Patricia Garcia-Canadilla
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Tous C, Gentles TL, Young AA, Pontré BP. Ex vivo cardiovascular magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging in congenital heart disease, an insight into the microstructures of tetralogy of Fallot, biventricular and univentricular systemic right ventricle. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2020; 22:69. [PMID: 32951605 PMCID: PMC7504600 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-020-00662-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Common types of congenital heart disease exhibit a variety of structural and functional variations which may be accompanied by changes in the myocardial microstructure. We aimed to compare myocardial architecture from magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in preserved pathology specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pathology specimens (n = 24) formalin-fixed for 40.8 ± 7.9 years comprised tetralogy of Fallot (TOF, n = 10), dextro-transposition of great arteries (D-TGA, n = 8) five with ventricular septal defect (VSD), systemic right ventricle (n = 4), situs inversus totalis (SIT, n = 1) and levo-TGA (L-TGA, n = 1). Specimens were imaged using a custom spin-echo sequence and segmented automatically according to tissue volume fraction. In each specimen T1, T2, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, helix angle (HA) and sheet angle (E2A) were quantified. Pathologies were compared according to their HA gradient, HA asymmetry and E2A mean value in each myocardial segment (anterior, posterior, septal and lateral walls). RESULTS TOF and D-TGA with VSD had decreased helix angle gradient by - 0.34°/% and remained symmetric in the septum in comparison to D-TGA without VSD. Helix angle range was decreased by 45°. It was associated with a decreased HA gradient in the right ventricular (RV) wall, i.e. predominant circumferential myocytes. The sheet angle in the septum of TOF was opposing those of the left ventricular (LV) free wall. Univentricular systemic RV had the lowest HA gradient (- 0.43°/%) and the highest HA asymmetry (75%). HA in SIT was linear, asymmetric, and reversed with a sign change at about 70% of the depth at mid-ventricle. In L-TGA with VSD, HA was asymmetric (90%) and its gradients were decreased in the septum, anterior and lateral wall. CONCLUSION The organization of the myocytes as determined by DTI differs between TOF, D-TGA, L-TGA, systemic RV and SIT specimens. These differences in cardiac structure may further enlighten our understanding of cardiac function in these diverse congenital heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Tous
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Laboratory of Clinical Image Processing Le Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Thomas L Gentles
- Green Lane Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Service, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alistair A Young
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Beau P Pontré
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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15
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Reichardt M, Töpperwien M, Khan A, Alves F, Salditt T. Fiber orientation in a whole mouse heart reconstructed by laboratory phase-contrast micro-CT. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2020; 7:023501. [PMID: 32206684 PMCID: PMC7055497 DOI: 10.1117/1.jmi.7.2.023501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: We present a phase-contrast x-ray tomography study of wild type C57BL/6 mouse hearts as a nondestructive approach to the microanatomy on the scale of the entire excised organ. Based on the partial coherence at a home-built phase-contrast μ-CT setup installed at a liquid metal jet source, we exploit phase retrieval and hence achieve superior image quality for heart tissue, almost comparable to previous synchrotron data on the whole organ scale. Approach: In our work, different embedding methods and heavy metal-based stains have been explored. From the tomographic reconstructions, quantitative structural parameters describing the three-dimensional (3-D) architecture have been derived by two different fiber tracking algorithms. The first algorithm is based on the local gradient of the reconstructed electron density. By performing a principal component analysis on the local structure-tensor of small subvolumes, the dominant direction inside the volume can be determined. In addition to this approach, which is already well established for heart tissue, we have implemented and tested an algorithm that is based on a local 3-D Fourier transform. Results: We showed that the choice of sample preparation influences the 3-D structure of the tissue, not only in terms of contrast but also with respect to the structural preservation. A heart prepared with the evaporation-of-solvent method was used to compare both algorithms. The results of structural orientation were very similar for both approaches. In addition to the determination of the fiber orientation, the degree of filament alignment and local thickness of single muscle fiber bundles were obtained using the Fourier-based approach. Conclusions: Phase-contrast x-ray tomography allows for investigating the structure of heart tissue with an isotropic resolution below 10 μm. The fact that this is possible with compact laboratory instrumentation opens up new opportunities for screening samples and optimizing sample preparation, also prior to synchrotron beamtimes. Further, results from the structural analysis can help in understanding cardiovascular diseases or can be used to improve computational models of the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Reichardt
- University of Göttingen, Institute for X-Ray Physics, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mareike Töpperwien
- University of Göttingen, Institute for X-Ray Physics, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Amara Khan
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,University of Göttingen, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- University of Göttingen, Institute for X-Ray Physics, Göttingen, Germany
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16
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Reichardt M, Töpperwien M, Khan A, Alves F, Salditt T. Fiber orientation in a whole mouse heart reconstructed by laboratory phase-contrast micro-CT. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2020; 7:023501. [PMID: 32206684 DOI: 10.1117/12.2527744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: We present a phase-contrast x-ray tomography study of wild type C57BL/6 mouse hearts as a nondestructive approach to the microanatomy on the scale of the entire excised organ. Based on the partial coherence at a home-built phase-contrast μ - CT setup installed at a liquid metal jet source, we exploit phase retrieval and hence achieve superior image quality for heart tissue, almost comparable to previous synchrotron data on the whole organ scale. Approach: In our work, different embedding methods and heavy metal-based stains have been explored. From the tomographic reconstructions, quantitative structural parameters describing the three-dimensional (3-D) architecture have been derived by two different fiber tracking algorithms. The first algorithm is based on the local gradient of the reconstructed electron density. By performing a principal component analysis on the local structure-tensor of small subvolumes, the dominant direction inside the volume can be determined. In addition to this approach, which is already well established for heart tissue, we have implemented and tested an algorithm that is based on a local 3-D Fourier transform. Results: We showed that the choice of sample preparation influences the 3-D structure of the tissue, not only in terms of contrast but also with respect to the structural preservation. A heart prepared with the evaporation-of-solvent method was used to compare both algorithms. The results of structural orientation were very similar for both approaches. In addition to the determination of the fiber orientation, the degree of filament alignment and local thickness of single muscle fiber bundles were obtained using the Fourier-based approach. Conclusions: Phase-contrast x-ray tomography allows for investigating the structure of heart tissue with an isotropic resolution below 10 μ m . The fact that this is possible with compact laboratory instrumentation opens up new opportunities for screening samples and optimizing sample preparation, also prior to synchrotron beamtimes. Further, results from the structural analysis can help in understanding cardiovascular diseases or can be used to improve computational models of the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Reichardt
- University of Göttingen, Institute for X-Ray Physics, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mareike Töpperwien
- University of Göttingen, Institute for X-Ray Physics, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Amara Khan
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
- University of Göttingen, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- University of Göttingen, Institute for X-Ray Physics, Göttingen, Germany
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17
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Dejea H, Garcia-Canadilla P, Cook AC, Guasch E, Zamora M, Crispi F, Stampanoni M, Bijnens B, Bonnin A. Comprehensive Analysis of Animal Models of Cardiovascular Disease using Multiscale X-Ray Phase Contrast Tomography. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6996. [PMID: 31061429 PMCID: PMC6502928 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43407-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) affect the myocardium and vasculature, inducing remodelling of the heart from cellular to whole organ level. To assess their impact at micro and macroscopic level, multi-resolution imaging techniques that provide high quality images without sample alteration and in 3D are necessary: requirements not fulfilled by most of current methods. In this paper, we take advantage of the non-destructive time-efficient 3D multiscale capabilities of synchrotron Propagation-based X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging (PB-X-PCI) to study a wide range of cardiac tissue characteristics in one healthy and three different diseased rat models. With a dedicated image processing pipeline, PB-X-PCI images are analysed in order to show its capability to assess different cardiac tissue components at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. The presented technique evaluates in detail the overall cardiac morphology, myocyte aggregate orientation, vasculature changes, fibrosis formation and nearly single cell arrangement. Our results agree with conventional histology and literature. This study demonstrates that synchrotron PB-X-PCI, combined with image processing tools, is a powerful technique for multi-resolution structural investigation of the heart ex-vivo. Therefore, the proposed approach can improve the understanding of the multiscale remodelling processes occurring in CVDs, and the comprehensive and fast assessment of future interventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Dejea
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Patricia Garcia-Canadilla
- PhySense, DTIC, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew C Cook
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eduard Guasch
- Arrhythmia Unit, Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Cardiovascular (CIBER-CV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica Zamora
- BCNatal, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fatima Crispi
- BCNatal, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Stampanoni
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bart Bijnens
- PhySense, DTIC, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anne Bonnin
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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18
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Doste R, Soto-Iglesias D, Bernardino G, Alcaine A, Sebastian R, Giffard-Roisin S, Sermesant M, Berruezo A, Sanchez-Quintana D, Camara O. A rule-based method to model myocardial fiber orientation in cardiac biventricular geometries with outflow tracts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2019; 35:e3185. [PMID: 30721579 DOI: 10.1002/cnm.3185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Rule-based methods are often used for assigning fiber orientation to cardiac anatomical models. However, existing methods have been developed using data mostly from the left ventricle. As a consequence, fiber information obtained from rule-based methods often does not match histological data in other areas of the heart such as the right ventricle, having a negative impact in cardiac simulations beyond the left ventricle. In this work, we present a rule-based method where fiber orientation is separately modeled in each ventricle following observations from histology. This allows to create detailed fiber orientation in specific regions such as the endocardium of the right ventricle, the interventricular septum, and the outflow tracts. We also carried out electrophysiological simulations involving these structures and with different fiber configurations. In particular, we built a modeling pipeline for creating patient-specific volumetric meshes of biventricular geometries, including the outflow tracts, and subsequently simulate the electrical wavefront propagation in outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias with different origins for the ectopic focus. The resulting simulations with the proposed rule-based method showed a very good agreement with clinical parameters such as the 10 ms isochrone ratio in a cohort of nine patients suffering from this type of arrhythmia. The developed modeling pipeline confirms its potential for an in silico identification of the site of origin in outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias before clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Doste
- Physense, ETIC, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Rafael Sebastian
- Computational Multiscale Simulation Lab (CoMMLab), Department of Computer Science, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonio Berruezo
- Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Damian Sanchez-Quintana
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Oscar Camara
- Physense, ETIC, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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19
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Bailly L, Cochereau T, Orgéas L, Henrich Bernardoni N, Rolland du Roscoat S, McLeer-Florin A, Robert Y, Laval X, Laurencin T, Chaffanjon P, Fayard B, Boller E. 3D multiscale imaging of human vocal folds using synchrotron X-ray microtomography in phase retrieval mode. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14003. [PMID: 30228304 PMCID: PMC6143640 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31849-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human vocal folds possess outstanding abilities to endure large, reversible deformations and to vibrate up to more than thousand cycles per second. This unique performance mainly results from their complex specific 3D and multiscale structure, which is very difficult to investigate experimentally and still presents challenges using either confocal microscopy, MRI or X-ray microtomography in absorption mode. To circumvent these difficulties, we used high-resolution synchrotron X-ray microtomography with phase retrieval and report the first ex vivo 3D images of human vocal-fold tissues at multiple scales. Various relevant descriptors of structure were extracted from the images: geometry of vocal folds at rest or in a stretched phonatory-like position, shape and size of their layered fibrous architectures, orientation, shape and size of the muscle fibres as well as the set of collagen and elastin fibre bundles constituting these layers. The developed methodology opens a promising insight into voice biomechanics, which will allow further assessment of the micromechanics of the vocal folds and their vibratory properties. This will then provide valuable guidelines for the design of new mimetic biomaterials for the next generation of artificial larynges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Bailly
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, Grenoble, F-38000, France.
| | - Thibaud Cochereau
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, Grenoble, F-38000, France.,Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, GIPSA-lab, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Laurent Orgéas
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | | | | | - Anne McLeer-Florin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CHU Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, IAB, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Yohann Robert
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CHU Grenoble Alpes, LADAF, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Xavier Laval
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, GIPSA-lab, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Tanguy Laurencin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Philippe Chaffanjon
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, GIPSA-lab, Grenoble, F-38000, France.,Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CHU Grenoble Alpes, LADAF, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | | | - Elodie Boller
- ID19 beamline, ESRF - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, CS40220, Grenoble, 38043, France
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McClymont D, Teh I, Schneider JE. The impact of signal-to-noise ratio, diffusion-weighted directions and image resolution in cardiac diffusion tensor imaging - insights from the ex-vivo rat heart. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2017; 19:90. [PMID: 29157268 PMCID: PMC5695094 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-017-0395-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is limited by scan time and signal-to-noise (SNR) restrictions. This invariably leads to a trade-off between the number of averages, diffusion-weighted directions (ND), and image resolution. Systematic evaluation of these parameters is therefore important for adoption of cardiac DTI in clinical routine where time is a key constraint. METHODS High quality reference DTI data were acquired in five ex-vivo rat hearts. We then retrospectively set 2 ≤ SNR ≤ 97, 7 ≤ ND ≤ 61, varied the voxel volume by up to 192-fold and investigated the impact on the accuracy and precision of commonly derived parameters. RESULTS For maximal scan efficiency, the accuracy and precision of the mean diffusivity is optimised when SNR is maximised at the expense of ND. With typical parameter settings used clinically, we estimate that fractional anisotropy may be overestimated by up to 13% with an uncertainty of ±30%, while the precision of the sheetlet angles may be as poor as ±31°. Although the helix angle has better precision of ±14°, the transmural range of helix angles may be under-estimated by up to 30° in apical and basal slices, due to partial volume and tapering myocardial geometry. CONCLUSIONS These findings inform a baseline of understanding upon which further issues inherent to in-vivo cardiac DTI, such as motion, strain and perfusion, can be considered. Furthermore, the reported bias and reproducibility provides a context in which to assess cardiac DTI biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryl McClymont
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Irvin Teh
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Jürgen E. Schneider
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Simultaneous visualisation of calcified bone microstructure and intracortical vasculature using synchrotron X-ray phase contrast-enhanced tomography. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13289. [PMID: 29038597 PMCID: PMC5643345 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13632-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
3D imaging of the bone vasculature is of key importance in the understanding of skeletal disease. As blood vessels in bone are deeply encased in the calcified matrix, imaging techniques that are applicable to soft tissues are generally difficult or impossible to apply to the skeleton. While canals in cortical bone can readily be identified and characterised in X-ray computed tomographic data in 3D, the soft tissue comprising blood vessels that are putatively contained within the canal structures does not provide sufficient image contrast necessary for image segmentation. Here, we report an approach that allows for rapid, simultaneous visualisation of calcified bone tissue and the vasculature within the calcified bone matrix. Using synchrotron X-ray phase contrast-enhanced tomography we show exemplar data with intracortical capillaries uncovered at sub-micrometre level without the need for any staining or contrast agent. Using the tibiofibular junction of 15 week-old C57BL/6 mice post mortem, we show the bone cortical porosity simultaneously along with the soft tissue comprising the vasculature. Validation with histology confirms that we can resolve individual capillaries. This imaging approach could be easily applied to other skeletal sites and transgenic models, and could improve our understanding of the role the vasculature plays in bone disease.
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