AUTHOR=Dejea Hector , Schlepütz Christian M. , Méndez-Carmona Natalia , Arnold Maria , Garcia-Canadilla Patricia , Longnus Sarah L. , Stampanoni Marco , Bijnens Bart , Bonnin Anne TITLE=A tomographic microscopy-compatible Langendorff system for the dynamic structural characterization of the cardiac cycle JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.1023483 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.1023483 ISSN=2297-055X 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.