1
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Beaulieu D, Treit S, Pagano JJ, Beaulieu C, Thompson R. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Individuals With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. CJC PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE 2023; 2:150-161. [PMID: 37969351 PMCID: PMC10642128 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjcpc.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has teratogenic effects on numerous body systems including the heart. However, research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in humans with PAE have thus far been limited to the brain. This study aims to use MRI to examine heart structure and function, brain volumes, and body composition in children and adolescents with PAE. Methods Heart, brain, and abdominal 3T MRI of 17 children, adolescents, and young adults with PAE and 53 unexposed controls was acquired to measure: (1) left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, longitudinal strain, circumferential strain, and heart mass; (2) total brain, cerebellum, white matter, grey matter, caudate, thalamus, putamen, and globus pallidus volumes; and (3) subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle fat, and muscle (body composition). Results Cardiac MRI revealed no abnormalities in the PAE group on evaluation by a paediatric cardiologist and by statistical comparison with a control group. Cardiac parameters in both groups were in line with previous reports, including expected sex- and age-related differences. Cerebellum, caudate, and globus pallidus volumes were all smaller. Body mass index and subcutaneous fat percent were higher in females with PAE relative to control females, but lower in males with PAE relative to control males. Conclusions Children with PAE did not have abnormalities in MRI-derived measures of cardiac structure or function despite smaller brain volumes and sex-specific differences in body composition relative to healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sarah Treit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joseph J. Pagano
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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2
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Ling S, Blackburn BJ, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M, Ford SM, Lapierre-Landry M, Rollins AM. Segmentation of beating embryonic heart structures from 4-D OCT images using deep learning. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:1945-1958. [PMID: 37206115 PMCID: PMC10191668 DOI: 10.1364/boe.481657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been used to investigate heart development because of its capability to image both structure and function of beating embryonic hearts. Cardiac structure segmentation is a prerequisite for the quantification of embryonic heart motion and function using OCT. Since manual segmentation is time-consuming and labor-intensive, an automatic method is needed to facilitate high-throughput studies. The purpose of this study is to develop an image-processing pipeline to facilitate the segmentation of beating embryonic heart structures from a 4-D OCT dataset. Sequential OCT images were obtained at multiple planes of a beating quail embryonic heart and reassembled to a 4-D dataset using image-based retrospective gating. Multiple image volumes at different time points were selected as key-volumes, and their cardiac structures including myocardium, cardiac jelly, and lumen, were manually labeled. Registration-based data augmentation was used to synthesize additional labeled image volumes by learning transformations between key-volumes and other unlabeled volumes. The synthesized labeled images were then used to train a fully convolutional network (U-Net) for heart structure segmentation. The proposed deep learning-based pipeline achieved high segmentation accuracy with only two labeled image volumes and reduced the time cost of segmenting one 4-D OCT dataset from a week to two hours. Using this method, one could carry out cohort studies that quantify complex cardiac motion and function in developing hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Ling
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Brecken J. Blackburn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael W. Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Ford
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Maryse Lapierre-Landry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew M. Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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3
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Ling S, Chen J, Lapierre-Landry M, Suh J, Liu Y, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M, Ford SM, Rollins AM. Automated endocardial cushion segmentation and cellularization quantification in developing hearts using optical coherence tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:5599-5615. [PMID: 36733755 PMCID: PMC9872882 DOI: 10.1364/boe.467629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Of all congenital heart defects (CHDs), anomalies in heart valves and septa are among the most common and contribute about fifty percent to the total burden of CHDs. Progenitors to heart valves and septa are endocardial cushions formed in looping hearts through a multi-step process that includes localized expansion of cardiac jelly, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell migration and proliferation. To characterize the development of endocardial cushions, previous studies manually measured cushion size or cushion cell density from images obtained using histology, immunohistochemistry, or optical coherence tomography (OCT). Manual methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, impeding their applications in cohort studies that require large sample sizes. This study presents an automated strategy to rapidly characterize the anatomy of endocardial cushions from OCT images. A two-step deep learning technique was used to detect the location of the heart and segment endocardial cushions. The acellular and cellular cushion regions were then segregated by K-means clustering. The proposed method can quantify cushion development by measuring the cushion volume and cellularized fraction, and also map 3D spatial organization of the acellular and cellular cushion regions. The application of this method to study the developing looping hearts allowed us to discover a spatial asymmetry of the acellular cardiac jelly in endocardial cushions during these critical stages, which has not been reported before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Ling
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jiawei Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Maryse Lapierre-Landry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Junwoo Suh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Yehe Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael W. Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Ford
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew M. Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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4
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Ling S, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M, Ford SM, Rollins AM. Prenatal ethanol exposure impairs the conduction delay at the atrioventricular junction in the looping heart. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 321:H294-H305. [PMID: 34142884 PMCID: PMC8526336 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00107.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The etiology of ethanol-related congenital heart defects has been the focus of much study, but most research has concentrated on cellular and molecular mechanisms. We have shown with optical coherence tomography (OCT) that ethanol exposure led to increased retrograde flow and smaller atrioventricular (AV) cushions compared with controls. Since AV cushions play a role in patterning the conduction delay at the atrioventricular junction (AVJ), this study aims to investigate whether ethanol exposure alters the AVJ conduction in early looping hearts and whether this alteration is related to the decreased cushion size. Quail embryos were exposed to a single dose of ethanol at gastrulation, and Hamburger-Hamilton stage 19-20 hearts were dissected for imaging. Cardiac conduction was measured using an optical mapping microscope and we imaged the endocardial cushions using OCT. Our results showed that, compared with controls, ethanol-exposed embryos exhibited abnormally fast AVJ conduction and reduced cushion size. However, this increased conduction velocity (CV) did not strictly correlate with decreased cushion volume and thickness. By matching the CV map to the cushion-size map along the inflow heart tube, we found that the slowest conduction location was consistently at the atrial side of the AVJ, which had the thinner cushions, not at the thickest cushion location at the ventricular side as expected. Our findings reveal regional differences in the AVJ myocardium even at this early stage in heart development. These findings reveal the early steps leading to the heterogeneity and complexity of conduction at the mature AVJ, a site where arrhythmias can be initiated.NEW & NOTEWORTHY To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the impact of ethanol exposure on the early cardiac conduction system. Our results showed that ethanol-exposed embryos exhibited abnormally fast atrioventricular conduction. In addition, our findings, in CV measurements and endocardial cushion thickness, reveal regional differences in the AVJ myocardium even at this early stage in heart development, suggesting that the differentiation and maturation at this site are complex and warrant further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Ling
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Stephanie M Ford
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
- Division of Neonatology, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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5
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Ford SM, Pedersen CJ, Ford MR, Kim JW, Karunamuni GH, McPheeters MT, Jawaid S, Jenkins MW, Rollins AM, Watanabe M. Folic acid prevents functional and structural heart defects induced by prenatal ethanol exposure. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00817.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
State-of-the-art biophotonic tools captured blood flow and endocardial cushion volumes in tiny beating quail embryo hearts, an accessible model for studying four-chambered heart development. Both hemodynamic flow and endocardial cushion volumes were altered with ethanol exposure but normalized when folic acid was introduced with ethanol. Folic acid supplementation preserved hemodynamic function that is intimately involved in sculpting the heart from the earliest stages of heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Ford
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Cameron J. Pedersen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Matthew R. Ford
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Ohio
| | - Jun W. Kim
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ganga H. Karunamuni
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Matthew T. McPheeters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Safdar Jawaid
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michael W. Jenkins
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Andrew M. Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
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Jawaid S, Strainic JP, Kim J, Ford MR, Thrane L, Karunamuni GH, Sheehan MM, Chowdhury A, Gillespie CA, Rollins AM, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M, Ford SM. Glutathione Protects the Developing Heart from Defects and Global DNA Hypomethylation Induced by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:69-78. [PMID: 33206417 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), the intake of ethanol (C2 H5 OH) during pregnancy. Features of FASD cover a range of structural and functional defects including congenital heart defects (CHDs). Folic acid and choline, contributors of methyl groups to one-carbon metabolism (OCM), prevent CHDs in humans. Using our avian model of FASD, we have previously reported that betaine, another methyl donor downstream of choline, prevents CHDs. The CHD preventions are substantial but incomplete. Ethanol causes oxidative stress as well as depleting methyl groups for OCM to support DNA methylation and other epigenetic alterations. To identify more compounds that can safely and effectively prevent CHDs and other effects of PAE, we tested glutathione (GSH), a compound that regulates OCM and is known as a "master antioxidant." METHODS/RESULTS Quail embryos injected with a single dose of ethanol at gastrulation exhibited congenital defects including CHDs similar to those identified in FASD individuals. GSH injected simultaneously with ethanol not only prevented CHDs, but also improved survival and prevented other PAE-induced defects. Assays of hearts at 8 days (HH stage 34) of quail development, when the heart normally has developed 4-chambers, showed that this single dose of PAE reduced global DNA methylation. GSH supplementation concurrent with PAE normalized global DNA methylation levels. The same assays performed on quail hearts at 3 days (HH stage 19-20) of development, showed no difference in global DNA methylation between controls, ethanol-treated, GSH alone, and GSH plus ethanol-treated cohorts. CONCLUSIONS GSH supplementation shows promise to inhibit effects of PAE by improving survival, reducing the incidence of morphological defects including CHDs, and preventing global hypomethylation of DNA in heart tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safdar Jawaid
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, (SJ, MMS, AMR, MWJ), School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - James P Strainic
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jun Kim
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Lars Thrane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, (SJ, MMS, AMR, MWJ), School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ganga H Karunamuni
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Megan M Sheehan
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, (SJ, MMS, AMR, MWJ), School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Amrin Chowdhury
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, (AC), Broadview Heights, Ohio, USA
| | - Caitlyn A Gillespie
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Fisk University, (CAG), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, (SJ, MMS, AMR, MWJ), School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, (SJ, MMS, AMR, MWJ), School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephanie M Ford
- From the, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, (SJ, JPS, GHK, MMS, AC, CAG, MWJ, MW, SMF), Department of Pediatrics, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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7
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Chen Z, Li S, Guo L, Peng X, Liu Y. Prenatal alcohol exposure induced congenital heart diseases: From bench to bedside. Birth Defects Res 2020; 113:521-534. [PMID: 32578335 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption is increasing worldwide. Many child-bearing-aged women consume alcohol during pregnancy, intentionally or unintentionally, thereby increasing the potential risk for severe congenital diseases. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect worldwide and can result from both hereditary and acquired factors. Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is considered a key factor that leads to teratogenesis in CHD and its specific phenotypes, especially defects of the cardiac septa, cardiac valves, cardiac canals, and great arteries, adjacent to the chambers, both in animal experiments and clinical retrospective studies. The mechanisms underlying CHD and its phenotypes caused by PAE are associated with changes in retinoic acid biosynthesis and its signaling pathway, apoptosis and defective function of cardiac neural crest cells, disturbance of the Wntβ-catenin signaling pathway, suppression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, and other epigenetic mechanisms. Drug supplements and early diagnosis can help prevent PAE from inducing CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyan Chen
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Sichuan Vocational College of Health and Rehabilitation, Zigong, Sichuan, China.,Department of Research, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Sichuan Vocational College of Health and Rehabilitation, Zigong, Sichuan, China.,Department of Research, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China
| | - Linghong Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, West China School of Basic Sciences & Forensic Medicine; Animal Research Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xu Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, West China School of Basic Sciences & Forensic Medicine; Animal Research Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yin Liu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Sichuan Vocational College of Health and Rehabilitation, Zigong, Sichuan, China.,Department of Research, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China.,Department of Pharmacology, West China School of Basic Sciences & Forensic Medicine; Animal Research Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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8
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Shan T, Zhao Y, Jiang S, Jiang H. In-vivo hemodynamic imaging of acute prenatal ethanol exposure in fetal brain by photoacoustic tomography. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2020; 13:e201960161. [PMID: 31994834 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201960161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) can lead to structural and functional abnormalities in fetal brain. Although neural developmental deficits due to PEE have been recognized, the immediate effects of PEE on fetal brain vasculature and hemodynamics remain poorly understood. One of the major obstacles that preclude the rapid advancement of studies on fetal vascular dynamics is the limitation of the imaging techniques. Thus, a technique for noninvasive in-vivo imaging of fetal vasculature and hemodynamics is desirable. In this study, we explored the dynamic changes of the vessel dimeter, density and oxygen saturation in fetal brain after acute maternal ethanol exposure in the second-trimester equivalent murine model using a real-time photoacoustic tomography system we developed for imaging embryo of small animals. The results indicate a significant decrease in fetal brain vessel diameter, perfusion and oxygen saturation. This work demonstrated that PAT can provide high-resolution noninvasive imaging ability to monitor fetal vascular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Shan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Yuan Zhao
- School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Shixie Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Huabei Jiang
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
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9
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Liu Y, Broberg MCG, Watanabe M, Rollins AM, Jenkins MW. SLIME: robust, high-speed 3D microvascular mapping. Sci Rep 2019; 9:893. [PMID: 30696870 PMCID: PMC6351571 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37313-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Three dimensional (3D) microvascular imaging of cubic millimeter to centimeter size volumes often requires much time and expensive instruments. By combining optical clearing with a novel scatter-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) contrast agent, we have greatly extended OCT imaging depth in excised tissues while maintaining a simple and low cost approach that does not require in-depth OCT knowledge. The new method enables fast 3D microvascular mapping in large tissue volumes, providing a promising tool for investigating organ level microvascular abnormalities in large cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehe Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Meredith C G Broberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.,Division of Pediatric Critical Care, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, USA
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
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10
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Raghunathan R, Wu C, Singh M, Liu CH, Miranda RC, Larin KV. Evaluating the effects of maternal alcohol consumption on murine fetal brain vasculature using optical coherence tomography. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2018; 11:e201700238. [PMID: 29292845 PMCID: PMC6292438 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201700238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in a range of anomalies including brain and behavioral dysfunctions, collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. PAE during the 1st and 2nd trimester is common, and research in animal models has documented significant neural developmental deficits associated with PAE during this period. However, little is known about the immediate effects of PAE on fetal brain vasculature. In this study, we used in utero speckle variance optical coherence tomography, a high spatial- and temporal-resolution imaging modality, to evaluate dynamic changes in microvasculature of the 2nd trimester equivalent murine fetal brain, minutes after binge-like maternal alcohol exposure. Acute binge-like PAE resulted in a rapid (<1 hour) and significant decrease (P < .001) in vessel diameter as compared to the sham group. The data show that a single binge-like maternal alcohol exposure resulted in swift vasoconstriction in fetal brain vessels during the critical period of neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raksha Raghunathan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Manmohan Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Chih-Hao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Rajesh C. Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, Texas
| | - Kirill V. Larin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biophotonics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Correspondence: Kirill V. Larin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX.
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11
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Flentke GR, Smith SM. The avian embryo as a model for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Biochem Cell Biol 2017; 96:98-106. [PMID: 29024604 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains a leading preventable cause of structural birth defects and permanent neurodevelopmental disability. The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a powerful embryological research model, and was possibly the first in which the teratogenicity of alcohol was demonstrated. Pharmacologically relevant exposure to alcohol in the range of 20-70 mmol/L (20-80 mg/egg) disrupt the growth of chicken embryos, morphogenesis, and behavior, and the resulting phenotypes strongly parallel those of mammalian models. The avian embryo's direct accessibility has enabled novel insights into the teratogenic mechanisms of alcohol. These include the contribution of IGF1 signaling to growth suppression, the altered flow dynamics that reshape valvuloseptal morphogenesis and mediate its cardiac teratogenicity, and the suppression of Wnt and Shh signals thereby disrupting the migration, expansion, and survival of the neural crest, and underlie its characteristic craniofacial deficits. The genetic diversity within commercial avian strains has enabled the identification of unique loci, such as ribosome biogenesis, that modify vulnerability to alcohol. This venerable research model is equally relevant for the future, as the application of technological advances including CRISPR, optogenetics, and biophotonics to the embryo's ready accessibility creates a unique model in which investigators can manipulate and monitor the embryo in real-time to investigate the effect of alcohol on cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R Flentke
- UNC-Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.,UNC-Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Susan M Smith
- UNC-Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.,UNC-Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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12
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Karunamuni G, Sheehan MM, Doughman YQ, Gu S, Sun J, Li Y, Strainic JP, Rollins AM, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M. Supplementation with the Methyl Donor Betaine Prevents Congenital Defects Induced by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:1917-1927. [PMID: 28888041 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite decades of public education about dire consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), drinking alcohol during pregnancy remains prevalent. As high as 40% of live-born infants exposed to alcohol during gestation and diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome have congenital heart defects that can be life-threatening. In animal models, the methyl donor betaine, found in foods such as wheat bran, quinoa, beets, and spinach, ameliorated neurobehavioral deficits associated with PAE, but effects on heart development are unknown. METHODS Previously, we modeled a binge drinking episode during the first trimester in avian embryos. Here, we investigated whether betaine could prevent adverse effects of alcohol on heart development. Embryos exposed to ethanol (EtOH) with and without an optimal dose of betaine (5 μM) were analyzed at late developmental stages. Cardiac morphology parameters were rapidly analyzed and quantified using optical coherence tomography. DNA methylation at early stages was detected by immunofluorescent staining for 5-methylcytosine in sections of embryos treated with EtOH or cotreated with betaine. RESULTS Compared to EtOH-exposed embryos, betaine-supplemented embryos had higher late-stage survival rates and fewer gross head and body defects than seen after alcohol exposure alone. Betaine also reduced the incidence of late-stage cardiac defects such as absent vessels, abnormal atrioventricular (AV) valves, and hypertrophic ventricles. Furthermore, betaine cotreatment brought measurements of great vessel diameters, interventricular septum thickness, and AV leaflet volumes in betaine-supplemented embryos close to control values. Early-stage 5-methycytosine staining revealed that DNA methylation levels were reduced by EtOH exposure and normalized by co-administration with betaine. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study demonstrating efficacy of the methyl donor betaine in alleviating cardiac defects associated with PAE. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of low-concentration betaine doses in mitigating PAE-induced birth defects and have implications for prenatal nutrition policies, especially for women who may not be responsive to folate supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganga Karunamuni
- Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Collaborative, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Megan M Sheehan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Yong Qiu Doughman
- Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Collaborative, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Shi Gu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jiayang Sun
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Center for Statistical Research, Computing and Collaboration, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Youjun Li
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Center for Statistical Research, Computing and Collaboration, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - James P Strainic
- Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Collaborative, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Collaborative, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Collaborative, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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13
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Grishina OA, Wang S, Larina IV. Speckle variance optical coherence tomography of blood flow in the beating mouse embryonic heart. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2017; 10:735-743. [PMID: 28417585 PMCID: PMC5565627 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201600293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Efficient separation of blood and cardiac wall in the beating embryonic heart is essential and critical for experiment-based computational modelling and analysis of early-stage cardiac biomechanics. Although speckle variance optical coherence tomography (SV-OCT) relying on calculation of intensity variance over consecutively acquired frames is a powerful approach for segmentation of fluid flow from static tissue, application of this method in the beating embryonic heart remains challenging because moving structures generate SV signal indistinguishable from the blood. Here, we demonstrate a modified four-dimensional SV-OCT approach that effectively separates the blood flow from the dynamic heart wall in the beating mouse embryonic heart. The method takes advantage of the periodic motion of the cardiac wall and is based on calculation of the SV signal over the frames corresponding to the same phase of the heartbeat cycle. Through comparison with Doppler OCT imaging, we validate this speckle-based approach and show advantages in its insensitiveness to the flow direction and velocity as well as reduced influence from the heart wall movement. This approach has a potential in variety of applications relying on visualization and segmentation of blood flow in periodically moving structures, such as mechanical simulation studies and finite element modelling. Picture: Four-dimensional speckle variance OCT imaging shows the blood flow inside the beating heart of an E8.5 mouse embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Irina V. Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
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14
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Peterson LM, Gu S, Karunamuni G, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M, Rollins AM. Embryonic aortic arch hemodynamics are a functional biomarker for ethanol-induced congenital heart defects [Invited]. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 8:1823-1837. [PMID: 28663868 PMCID: PMC5480583 DOI: 10.1364/boe.8.001823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The great arteries develop from symmetrical aortic arch arteries which are extensively remodeled. These events are vulnerable to perturbations. Hemodynamic forces have a significant role in this remodeling. In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) visualized live avian embryos for staging and measuring pharyngeal arch morphology. Measurements acquired with our orientation-independent, dual-angle Doppler OCT technique revealed that ethanol exposure leads to higher absolute blood flow, shear stress, and retrograde flow. Ethanol-exposed embryos had smaller cardiac neural crest (CNC) derived pharyngeal arch mesenchyme and fewer migrating CNC-derived cells. These differences in forces and CNC cell numbers could explain the abnormal aortic arch remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsy M. Peterson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Shi Gu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Ganga Karunamuni
- Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Michael W. Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
- Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Andrew M. Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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15
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Ford SM, McPheeters MT, Wang YT, Ma P, Gu S, Strainic J, Snyder C, Rollins AM, Watanabe M, Jenkins MW. Increased regurgitant flow causes endocardial cushion defects in an avian embryonic model of congenital heart disease. CONGENIT HEART DIS 2017; 12:322-331. [PMID: 28211263 DOI: 10.1111/chd.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between changes in endocardial cushion and resultant congenital heart diseases (CHD) has yet to be established. It has been shown that increased regurgitant flow early in embryonic heart development leads to endocardial cushion defects, but it remains unclear how abnormal endocardial cushions during the looping stages might affect the fully septated heart. The goal of this study was to reproducibly alter blood flow in vivo and then quantify the resultant effects on morphology of endocardial cushions in the looping heart and on CHDs in the septated heart. METHODS Optical pacing was applied to create regurgitant flow in embryonic hearts, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was utilized to quantify regurgitation and morphology. Embryonic quail hearts were optically paced at 3 Hz (180 bpm, well above intrinsic rate 60-110 bpm) at stage 13 of development (3-4 weeks human) for 5 min. Pacing fatigued the heart and led to at least 1 h of increased regurgitant flow. Resultant morphological changes were quantified with OCT imaging at stage 19 (cardiac looping-4-5 weeks human) or stage 35 (4 chambered heart-8 weeks human). RESULTS All paced embryos imaged at stage 19 displayed structural changes in cardiac cushions. The amount of regurgitant flow immediately after pacing was inversely correlated with cardiac cushion size 24-h post pacing (P value < .01). The embryos with the most regurgitant flow and smallest cushions after pacing had a decreased survival rate at 8 days (P < .05), indicating that those most severe endocardial cushion defects were lethal. Of the embryos that survived to stage 35, 17/18 exhibited CHDs including valve defects, ventricular septal defects, hypoplastic ventricles, and common AV canal. CONCLUSION The data illustrate a strong inverse relationship in which regurgitant flow precedes abnormal and smaller cardiac cushions, resulting in the development of CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Ford
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Division of Neonatology, University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew T McPheeters
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Yves T Wang
- Case Western Reserve University Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Pei Ma
- Case Western Reserve University Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Shi Gu
- Case Western Reserve University Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - James Strainic
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher Snyder
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Case Western Reserve University Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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16
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Deniz E, Jonas S, Hooper M, N. Griffin J, Choma MA, Khokha MK. Analysis of Craniocardiac Malformations in Xenopus using Optical Coherence Tomography. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42506. [PMID: 28195132 PMCID: PMC5307353 DOI: 10.1038/srep42506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Birth defects affect 3% of children in the United States. Among the birth defects, congenital heart disease and craniofacial malformations are major causes of mortality and morbidity. Unfortunately, the genetic mechanisms underlying craniocardiac malformations remain largely uncharacterized. To address this, human genomic studies are identifying sequence variations in patients, resulting in numerous candidate genes. However, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis for most candidate genes are unknown. Therefore, there is a need for functional analyses in rapid and efficient animal models of human disease. Here, we coupled the frog Xenopus tropicalis with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to create a fast and efficient system for testing craniocardiac candidate genes. OCT can image cross-sections of microscopic structures in vivo at resolutions approaching histology. Here, we identify optimal OCT imaging planes to visualize and quantitate Xenopus heart and facial structures establishing normative data. Next we evaluate known human congenital heart diseases: cardiomyopathy and heterotaxy. Finally, we examine craniofacial defects by a known human teratogen, cyclopamine. We recapitulate human phenotypes readily and quantify the functional and structural defects. Using this approach, we can quickly test human craniocardiac candidate genes for phenocopy as a critical first step towards understanding disease mechanisms of the candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engin Deniz
- Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Stephan Jonas
- Department of Medical Informatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Michael Hooper
- Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - John N. Griffin
- Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Michael A. Choma
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, 333 Cedar, Street New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Applied Physics, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Mustafa K. Khokha
- Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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17
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Ulrich SM, Lehner A, Birnbaum J, Heckel S, Haas NA, Hakami L, Schramm R, Dalla Pozza R, Fischer M, Kozlik-Feldmann R. Safety of optical coherence tomography in pediatric heart transplant patients. Int J Cardiol 2017; 228:205-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.11.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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18
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Wang S, Garcia MD, Lopez AL, Overbeek PA, Larin KV, Larina IV. Dynamic imaging and quantitative analysis of cranial neural tube closure in the mouse embryo using optical coherence tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 8:407-419. [PMID: 28101427 PMCID: PMC5231309 DOI: 10.1364/boe.8.000407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Neural tube closure is a critical feature of central nervous system morphogenesis during embryonic development. Failure of this process leads to neural tube defects, one of the most common forms of human congenital defects. Although molecular and genetic studies in model organisms have provided insights into the genes and proteins that are required for normal neural tube development, complications associated with live imaging of neural tube closure in mammals limit efficient morphological analyses. Here, we report the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for dynamic imaging and quantitative assessment of cranial neural tube closure in live mouse embryos in culture. Through time-lapse imaging, we captured two neural tube closure mechanisms in different cranial regions, zipper-like closure of the hindbrain region and button-like closure of the midbrain region. We also used OCT imaging for phenotypic characterization of a neural tube defect in a mouse mutant. These results suggest that the described approach is a useful tool for live dynamic analysis of normal neural tube closure and neural tube defects in the mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Wang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Equal Contribution
| | - Monica D. Garcia
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Equal Contribution
| | - Andrew L. Lopez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paul A. Overbeek
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kirill V. Larin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biophotonics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, 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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19
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Ma P, Gu S, Karunamuni GH, Jenkins MW, Watanabe M, Rollins AM. Cardiac neural crest ablation results in early endocardial cushion and hemodynamic flow abnormalities. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2016; 311:H1150-H1159. [PMID: 27542407 PMCID: PMC5130492 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00188.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac neural crest cell (CNCC) ablation creates congenital heart defects (CHDs) that resemble those observed in many syndromes with craniofacial and cardiac consequences. The loss of CNCCs causes a variety of great vessel defects, including persistent truncus arteriosus and double-outlet right ventricle. However, because of the lack of quantitative volumetric measurements, less severe defects, such as great vessel size changes and valve defects, have not been assessed. Also poorly understood is the role of abnormal cardiac function in the progression of CNCC-related CHDs. CNCC ablation was previously reported to cause abnormal cardiac function in early cardiogenesis, before the CNCCs arrive in the outflow region of the heart. However, the affected functional parameters and how they correlate with the structural abnormalities were not fully characterized. In this study, using a CNCC-ablated quail model, we contribute quantitative phenotyping of CNCC ablation-related CHDs and investigate abnormal early cardiac function, which potentially contributes to late-stage CHDs. Optical coherence tomography was used to assay early- and late-stage embryos and hearts. In CNCC-ablated embryos at four-chambered heart stages, great vessel diameter and left atrioventricular valve leaflet volumes are reduced. Earlier, at cardiac looping stages, CNCC-ablated embryos exhibit abnormally twisted bodies, abnormal blood flow waveforms, increased retrograde flow percentage, and abnormal cardiac cushions. The phenotypes observed in this CNCC-ablation model were also strikingly similar to those found in an established avian fetal alcohol syndrome model, supporting the contribution of CNCC dysfunction to the development of alcohol-induced CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; and
| | - Shi Gu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; and
| | - Ganga H Karunamuni
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; and
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; and
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20
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Men J, Huang Y, Solanki J, Zeng X, Alex A, Jerwick J, Zhang Z, Tanzi RE, Li A, Zhou C. Optical Coherence Tomography for Brain Imaging and Developmental Biology. IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS : A PUBLICATION OF THE IEEE LASERS AND ELECTRO-OPTICS SOCIETY 2016; 22:6803213. [PMID: 27721647 PMCID: PMC5049888 DOI: 10.1109/jstqe.2015.2513667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising research tool for brain imaging and developmental biology. Serving as a three-dimensional optical biopsy technique, OCT provides volumetric reconstruction of brain tissues and embryonic structures with micrometer resolution and video rate imaging speed. Functional OCT enables label-free monitoring of hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the brain in vitro and in vivo in animal models. Due to its non-invasiveness nature, OCT enables longitudinal imaging of developing specimens in vivo without potential damage from surgical operation, tissue fixation and processing, and staining with exogenous contrast agents. In this paper, various OCT applications in brain imaging and developmental biology are reviewed, with a particular focus on imaging heart development. In addition, we report findings on the effects of a circadian gene (Clock) and high-fat-diet on heart development in Drosophila melanogaster. These findings contribute to our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms connecting circadian genes and obesity to heart development and cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Men
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
| | - Yongyang Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
| | - Jitendra Solanki
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
| | - Xianxu Zeng
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China, 450000
| | - Aneesh Alex
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
| | - Jason Jerwick
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China, 450000
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, 02129
| | - Airong Li
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, 02129
| | - Chao Zhou
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and Bioengineering Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 18015
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21
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Singh M, Raghunathan R, Piazza V, Davis-Loiacono AM, Cable A, Vedakkan TJ, Janecek T, Frazier MV, Nair A, Wu C, Larina IV, Dickinson ME, Larin KV. Applicability, usability, and limitations of murine embryonic imaging with optical coherence tomography and optical projection tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2016; 7:2295-310. [PMID: 27375945 PMCID: PMC4918583 DOI: 10.1364/boe.7.002295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
We present an analysis of imaging murine embryos at various embryonic developmental stages (embryonic day 9.5, 11.5, and 13.5) by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical projection tomography (OPT). We demonstrate that while OCT was capable of rapid high-resolution live 3D imaging, its limited penetration depth prevented visualization of deeper structures, particularly in later stage embryos. In contrast, OPT was able to image the whole embryos, but could not be used in vivo because the embryos must be fixed and cleared. Moreover, the fixation process significantly altered the embryo morphology, which was quantified by the volume of the eye-globes before and after fixation. All of these factors should be weighed when determining which imaging modality one should use to achieve particular goals of a study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manmohan Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
| | - Raksha Raghunathan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
| | - Victor Piazza
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, 77584, USA
| | | | - Alex Cable
- Thorlabs, Inc., 56 Sparta Ave., Newton, 07860, USA
| | - Tegy J. Vedakkan
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, 77584, USA
| | - Trevor Janecek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
| | - Michael V. Frazier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
| | - Achuth Nair
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
| | - Irina V. Larina
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, 77584, USA
| | - Mary E. Dickinson
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, 77584, USA
| | - Kirill V. Larin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77204, USA
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, 77584, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Samara National Research University, Samara, 34 Moskovskoye sh., 443086, Russia
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22
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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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Coram RJ, Stillwagon SJ, Guggilam A, Jenkins MW, Swanson MS, Ladd AN. Muscleblind-like 1 is required for normal heart valve development in vivo. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 15:36. [PMID: 26472242 PMCID: PMC4608261 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-015-0087-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Development of the valves and septa of the heart depends on the formation and remodeling of the endocardial cushions in the atrioventricular canal and outflow tract. These cushions are populated by mesenchyme produced from the endocardium by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The endocardial cushions are remodeled into the valves at post-EMT stages via differentiation of the mesenchyme and changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling has been implicated in both the induction of EMT in the endocardial cushions and the remodeling of the valves at post-EMT stages. We previously identified the RNA binding protein muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) as a negative regulator of TGFβ signaling and EMT in chicken endocardial cushions ex vivo. Here, we investigate the role of MBNL1 in endocardial cushion development and valvulogenesis in Mbnl1∆E3/∆E3 mice, which are null for MBNL1 protein. Methods Collagen gel invasion assays, histology, immunohistochemistry, real-time RT-PCR, optical coherence tomography, and echocardiography were used to evaluate EMT and TGFβ signaling in the endocardial cushions, and morphogenesis, ECM composition, and function of the heart valves. Results As in chicken, the loss of MBNL1 promotes precocious TGFβ signaling and EMT in the endocardial cushions. Surprisingly, this does not lead to the production of excess mesenchyme, but later valve morphogenesis is aberrant. Adult Mbnl1∆E3/∆E3 mice exhibit valve dysmorphia with elevated TGFβ signaling, changes in ECM composition, and increased pigmentation. This is accompanied by a high incidence of regurgitation across both inflow and outflow valves. Mbnl1∆E3/∆E3 mice also have a high incidence of ostium secundum septal defects accompanied by atrial communication, but do not develop overt cardiomyopathy. Conclusions Together, these data indicate that MBNL1 plays a conserved role in negatively regulating TGFβ signaling, and is required for normal valve morphogenesis and homeostasis in vivo. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12861-015-0087-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Coram
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Ave. NC10, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA. .,Present Address: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
| | - Samantha J Stillwagon
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Ave. NC10, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA. .,Present Address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Anuradha Guggilam
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Ave. NC10, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
| | - Maurice S Swanson
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Andrea N Ladd
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Ave. NC10, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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Burton JC, Wang S, Stewart CA, Behringer RR, Larina IV. High-resolution three-dimensional in vivo imaging of mouse oviduct using optical coherence tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2015; 6:2713-2723. [PMID: 26203393 PMCID: PMC4505721 DOI: 10.1364/boe.6.002713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The understanding of the reproductive events and the molecular mechanisms regulating fertility and infertility in humans relies heavily on the analysis of the corresponding phenotypes in mouse models. While molecular genetic approaches provide significant insight into the molecular regulation of these processes, the lack of live imaging methods that allow for detailed visualization of the mouse reproductive organs limits our investigations of dynamic events taking place during the ovulation, the fertilization and the pre-implantation stages of embryonic development. Here we introduce an in vivo three-dimensional imaging approach for visualizing the mouse oviduct and reproductive events with micro-scale spatial resolution using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This method relies on the natural tissue optical contrast and does not require the application of any contrast agents. For the first time, we present live high-resolution images of the internal structural features of the oviduct, as well as other reproductive organs and the oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells. These results provide the basis for a wide range of live dynamic studies focused on understanding fertility and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C. Burton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Equal Contribution
| | - Shang Wang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Equal Contribution
| | - C. Allison Stewart
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Richard R. Behringer
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Irina V. Larina
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
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