Histological Analysis of Myocardium of Genetically Altered Mice
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
21-4-2008 1:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2008 3:00 PM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Marilyn C. Hart
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
In cardiac muscle, two major filaments, actin and myosin, are organized into a specific overlapping pattern. The actin filaments are stabilized by attachment to the Z line of the sarcomere by actin capping protein. In previous genetic studies, mice were generated which had a reduced level of actin capping protein at the Z lines in myocardium. In preliminary studies, the hearts were enlarged relative to body weight and the myocardium was disorganized. To characterize the alteration of the genetically altered myocardium, hearts were removed from both genetically altered and wildtype mice at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post gestation. The hearts were rinsed in phosphate buffered saline, dehydrated in a graded series of alcohol, and embedded in paraffin. The hearts were mounted on a microtome, cut into 6 µm thick sections and adhered to gelatin coated slides. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin which stains the nucleus blue and the cytoplasm of the cell pink. Myocyte size and shape along with the hearts' overall shape was examined through an Olympus BX-30 compound light microscope. Digitized images were acquired using a SPOT camera and Simple PCI acquisition software. Using Simple PCI, quantitative measurements of cell size were determined.
Histological Analysis of Myocardium of Genetically Altered Mice
CSU Ballroom
In cardiac muscle, two major filaments, actin and myosin, are organized into a specific overlapping pattern. The actin filaments are stabilized by attachment to the Z line of the sarcomere by actin capping protein. In previous genetic studies, mice were generated which had a reduced level of actin capping protein at the Z lines in myocardium. In preliminary studies, the hearts were enlarged relative to body weight and the myocardium was disorganized. To characterize the alteration of the genetically altered myocardium, hearts were removed from both genetically altered and wildtype mice at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post gestation. The hearts were rinsed in phosphate buffered saline, dehydrated in a graded series of alcohol, and embedded in paraffin. The hearts were mounted on a microtome, cut into 6 µm thick sections and adhered to gelatin coated slides. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin which stains the nucleus blue and the cytoplasm of the cell pink. Myocyte size and shape along with the hearts' overall shape was examined through an Olympus BX-30 compound light microscope. Digitized images were acquired using a SPOT camera and Simple PCI acquisition software. Using Simple PCI, quantitative measurements of cell size were determined.
Recommended Citation
Kamrud, Joshua. "Histological Analysis of Myocardium of Genetically Altered Mice." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 21, 2008.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2008/poster-session-B/11
