Quantification of Mouse Heart Left Ventricular Function, Myocardial Strain, and Hemodynamic Forces by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Mouse models have contributed significantly to understanding genetic and physiological factors involved in healthy cardiac function, how perturbations result in pathology, and how myocardial diseases may be treated. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become an indispensable tool for a comprehensive in vivo assessment of cardiac anatomy and function. This protocol shows detailed measurements of mouse heart left ventricular function, myocardial strain, and hemodynamic forces using 7-Tesla CMR. First, animal preparation and positioning in the scanner are demonstrated. Survey scans are performed for planning imaging slices in various short- and long-axis views. A series of prospective ECG-triggered short-axis (SA) movies (or CINE images) are acquired covering the heart from apex to base, capturing end-systolic and end-diastolic phases. Subsequently, single-slice, retrospectively gated CINE images are acquired in a midventricular SA view, and in 2-, 3-, and 4-chamber views, to be reconstructed into high-temporal resolution CINE images using custom-built and open-source software. CINE images are subsequently analyzed using dedicated CMR image analysis software. Delineating endomyocardial and epicardial borders in SA end-systolic and end-diastolic CINE images allows for the calculation of end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, ejection fraction, and cardiac output. The midventricular SA CINE images are delineated for all cardiac time frames to extract a detailed volume-time curve. Its time derivative allows for the calculation of the diastolic function as the ratio of the early filling and atrial contraction waves. Finally, left ventricular endocardial walls in the 2-, 3-, and 4-chamber views are delineated using feature-tracking, from which longitudinal myocardial strain parameters and left ventricular hemodynamic forces are calculated. In conclusion, this protocol provides detailed in vivo quantification of the mouse cardiac parameters, which can be used to study temporal alterations in cardiac function in various mouse models of heart disease.

Catch-up alveolarization in ex-preterm children: evidence from (3)He magnetic resonance.

RATIONALE: Histologic data from fatal cases suggest that extreme prematurity results in persisting alveolar damage. However, there is new evidence that human alveolarization might continue throughout childhood and could contribute to alveolar repair. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether alveolar damage in extreme-preterm survivors persists into late childhood, we compared alveolar dimensions between schoolchildren born term and preterm, using hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance. METHODS: We recruited schoolchildren aged 10-14 years stratified by gestational age at birth (weeks) to four groups: (1) term-born (37-42 wk; n = 61); (2) mild preterm (32-36 wk; n = 21); (3) extreme preterm (<32 wk, not oxygen dependent at 4 wk; n = 19); and (4) extreme preterm with chronic lung disease (<32 wk and oxygen dependent beyond 4 wk; n = 18). We measured lung function using spirometry and plethysmography. Apparent diffusion coefficient, a surrogate for average alveolar dimensions, was measured by helium-3 magnetic resonance. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The two extreme preterm groups had a lower FEV1 (P = 0.017) compared with term-born and mild preterm children. Apparent diffusion coefficient was 0.092 cm(2)/second (95% confidence interval, 0.089-0.095) in the term group. Corresponding values were 0.096 (0.091-0.101), 0.090 (0085-0.095), and 0.089 (0.083-0.094) in the mild preterm and two extreme preterm groups, respectively, implying comparable alveolar dimensions across all groups. Results did not change after controlling for anthropometric variables and potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Alveolar size at school age was similar in survivors of extreme prematurity and term-born children. Because extreme preterm birth is associated with deranged alveolar structure in infancy, the most likely explanation for our finding is catch-up alveolarization.

Complex formation, chemical exchange, species structure, and stereoselective effects in the copper(II)-L/DL-histidine systems.

The formation of copper(II) complexes with L- and DL-histidine (HisH) has been studied by means of pH-potentiometry and spectrophotometry over a wide range of pH (2-14), ligand-to-metal ratio (1 : 1-15 : 1), and temperature (15-55 °C) in aqueous solutions with 1.0 mol dm(-3) KNO(3) as background. Formation constants and spectral characteristics of 13 complex types were found. Fine stereoselective effects have been detected with preferential coordination of two ligands with identical configuration in Cu(His)(HisH)(+) and opposite configuration in Cu(His)(2). The stereoselective effect for Cu(His)(HisH)(+) is explained by hydrogen bond formation between the carboxyl and imidazolyl groups of neighboring ligands at cis-arrangement of amino groups (3N(eq)-form). The opposite sign of stereoselective effect for Cu(His)(2) is derived from favourable axial coordination of the imidazole group in meso-form with cis-structure (3N(eq)N(ax)-form). A significant tetrahedral distortion was revealed for the first time in the prevalent cis-isomer of the Cu(L-His)(2) 4N(eq)-form. These findings were confirmed by EPR data and DFT computations at the B3LYP/TZVP level. The prevalence of cis-isomers for these complexes has been assigned to the rather strong trans effect of the amino groups. The structures of other detected complexes are briefly discussed on the basis of spectroscopic data. Chemical exchange reactions in the copper(II)-L/DL-hishidine systems have been investigated by the NMR relaxation of water protons. A unique proton exchange reaction with short-term proton dissociation from the coordinated imidazolyl group catalyzed by hydroxide ion was characterised for the first time. The discovered enantioselective effects in the ligand exchange reactions between Cu(His)(2) and HisH or His(-) species were attributed to the associative substitution mechanism.

Structure, stability, and ligand exchange of copper(II) complexes with oxidized glutathione.

Formation constants and structures of copper(II) complexes with oxidized glutathione (L) have been determined by computer modelling of spectrophotometric and NMR relaxation measurements data over a wide range of pH (1-13) and metal and ligand concentrations in aqueous KNO(3) (1M) at 298K. Among 11 found complexes, four forms were characterized for the first time. Based on a comparison of thermodynamic, relaxation, and optical and EPR spectroscopy parameters the structural conclusions were made. In particular, the CuLH(2) and CuLH(-) complexes both contain two isomers which are similar to mono- and bis-aminoacid copper(II) complexes. In the Cu(2)L and Cu(3)L(2)(2-) species one of the copper atoms is bound only with the carboxylate or carbonyl groups and the others are coordinated similarly to aminoacid chelates. Along with the last, in Cu(2)LH(-2)(2-) two bridging OH(-) groups in one isomer or two chelate rings including deprotonated peptide nitrogen and glycinyl carboxylate oxygen in another are also present. In Cu(3)L(2)H(-4)(6-) the mixed variant of coordination between CuL(2-) (CuN(2)O(2)) and Cu(2)LH(-4)(4-)(CuN(3)O) is realized. The structures of polynuclear complexes have been optimized in density functional theory computations. Rate constants of ligand exchange reactions of Cu(LH)(2)(4-) and CuL(2)(6-) with participation of the LH(3-) and L(4-) forms were determined for the first time. Factors determining rates of these processes have been revealed and their proceeding by associative substitution mechanism shown.