Elucidation of the heart's functions by in vivo nano-imaging

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Molecular Science for Nanomedicine
• Project/Area Number: 23107003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Science and Engineering
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Norio Fukuda 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (30301534)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TERUI TAKAKO 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10366247) ; KOBIRUMAKI FUYU (SHIMOZAWA FUYU) 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (40548905) ; OYAMA KOTARO 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 特別研究員 (70632131)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ナノバイオ / 細胞・組織 / 循環器・高血圧 / 分子イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

1) We developed an experimental system for simultaneous nanoscale analysis of single sarcomere dynamics and Ca changes via the expression of AcGFP in Z disks in primary-cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. The averaging of the lengths of sarcomeres along the myocyte caused marked underestimation of sarcomere lengthening speed because of the superpositioning of different timings for lengthening between sequentially connected sarcomeres. We also found that a rapid increase in temperature to >~38°C induced Ca-independent high-frequency (~10Hz) sarcomeric auto-oscillations (HSOs).
2) We developed a high-speed (100 fps) high-resolution (20 nm) imaging system for myocardial sarcomeres in living mice. It was found that (i) the working range of sarcomere length existed on the shorter resting distribution side and (ii) the left ventricular developed pressure was linearly correlated with the sarcomere length change between diastole and systole on the order of 100 nm.

Free Research Field

生理学