Phenotyping transgenic embryonic murine hearts using optical coherence tomography

Appl Opt. 2007 Apr 1;46(10):1776-81. doi: 10.1364/ao.46.001776.

Abstract

We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to characterize the morphological phenotype of embryonic murine hearts discerning hexamethylene-bis-acetamide-inducible protein 1 (HEXIM1) mutants from their wild-type littermates. At E12.5 and E13.5 murine embryos were excised from the mother, the hearts were removed, and 3D OCT data sets were obtained from each heart in the litter. Next, we segmented the morphological borders to obtain cavity volumes and wall thicknesses. The mutant hearts exhibited increased ventricular chamber volume and decreased compact myocardium wall thickness when compared with their wild-type littermates. Also, the E13.5 HEXIM1 -/- embryo was distinguished by morphological asymmetry (underdeveloped left side).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Heart / anatomy & histology*
  • Heart / embryology*
  • Mice / genetics
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic / anatomy & histology*
  • Mice, Transgenic / embryology*
  • Phenotype
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • HEXIM1 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors