Serial block face scanning electron microscopy reveals region-dependent remodelling of transverse tubules post-myocardial infarction

• DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0331
• Publication Date: 2022-10-03T10:18:23Z
• Authors: Tharushi Perera; Charlene Pius; Barbara Niort; Emma J. Radcliffe; Katharine M. Dibb; Andrew W. Trafford; Christian Pinali
• Keywords: Heart Failure; 0303 health sciences; Sheep; Myocardial Infarction; transverse tubules; cardiomyocyte; Articles; Myocardial Contraction; 3. Good health; Disease Models, Animal; 03 medical and health sciences; myocardial infarction; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Animals; remodelling; three-dimensional electron microscopy; Myocytes, Cardiac

The highly organized transverse tubule (t-tubule) network facilitates cardiac excitation-contraction coupling and synchronous myocyte contraction. In failure secondary to myocardial infarction (MI), changes in the structure organization of t-tubules result impaired contractility. However, there is still little knowledge on regional variation t-tubule remodelling post-MI. Here, we investigate post-MI infarct border remote regions, using serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) applied a translationally relevant sheep ischaemia reperfusion MI model matched controls. We performed minimally invasive coronary angioplasty left anterior descending artery, followed by after 90 min establish model. Left ventricular tissues obtained from control hearts eight weeks were imaged SBF-SEM. Image analysis generated three-dimensional reconstructions t-tubular control, regions. Quantitative revealed that region was characterized depletion fragmentation, dilation surviving elongation. This study highlights region-dependent tubular may provide novel localized therapeutic targets aimed at preservation or restoration manage contractility article part theme issue 'The cardiomyocyte: new revelations interplay between architecture function growth, health, disease'.