Argon laser micro-irradiation of mitochondria in rat myocardial cells in tissue culture. 3. Irradiation of multicellular groups

A history of laser scissors (microbeams)

This introductory chapter reviews the history of microbeams starting with the original UV microbeam work of Tchakhotine in 1912 and covers the progress and application of microbeams through 2006. The main focus of the chapter is on laser "scissors" starting with Marcel Bessis' and colleagues work with the ruby laser microbeam in Paris in 1962. Following this introduction, a section is devoted to describing the different laser microbeam systems and then the rest of the chapter is devoted to applications in cell and developmental biology. The approach is to focus on the organelle/structure and describe how the laser microbeam has been applied to studying its structure and/or function. Since considerable work has been done on chromosomes and the mitotic spindle (Section V.A and C), these topics have been divided in distinct subsections. Other topics discussed are injection of foreign DNA through the cell membrane (optoporation/optoinjection), cell migration, the nucleolus, mitochondria, cytoplasmic filaments, and embryos fate-mapping. A final technology section is devoted to discussing the pros and cons of building/buying your own laser microbeam system and the option of using the Internet-based RoboLase system. Throughout the chapter, reference is made to other chapters in the book that go into more detail on the subjects briefly mentioned.

Laser microsurgery in cell and developmental biology

New applications of laser microbeam irradiation to cell and developmental biology include a new instrument with a tunable wavelength (217- to 800-nanometer) laser microbeam and a wide range of energies and exposure durations (down to 25 X 10(-12) second). Laser microbeams can be used for microirradiation of selected nucleolar genetic regions and for laser microdissection of mitotic and cytoplasmic organelles. They are also used to disrupt the developing neurosensory appendages of the cricket and the imaginal discs of Drosophila.

Alteration of membrane electrical activity in rat myocardial cells following selective laser microbeam irradiation

Laser microirradiation of neonatal rat (1 to 2-day-old) ventricular cells in tissue culture results in overt changes in contractility. The intracellular study of their ongoing electrical activity prior to, during, and after laser microirradiation demonstrates that definite membrane alteration occurs concomitantly with induced contractile responses. Although all ventricular cells are depolarized by laser microirradiation, the ultimate response elicited seems to differ according to the type of myocardial cell impaled. Typical fibrillation potentials were induced mainly in pacemaker cells.

Argon laser microirradiation of mitochondria in rat myocardial cells in tissue culture. VII. fibrillation in ventricle and auricle cells

Rat myocardial cells in vitro were irradiated in individual mitochondria with an argon ion laser microbeam. The contractile respone termed fibrillation in single and multicellular groups of both ventricle and auricle cells were compared. Specific correlations were made between fibrillation duration, the number of cells in the group, and the number of times the cells had fibrillated. Correlations were also made for the number of laser shots needed to induce fibrillation and the number of cells in the group. Another set of correlations were made between the pre-irradiation beat frequency and the beat frequency following recovery. Several differences and similarities of the above parameters were detected between auricle and ventricle cells. A comparison of the morphology and ultrastructure of auricle and ventricle cells also revealed significant differences.