The three-dimensional fiber path pattern in the mammalian heart, at the microscopic level of resolution, is currently unknown. However, the macroscopic pattern is known to be similar in different mammals. Therefore, an analysis of the microscopic fiber path pattern in the mouse will significantly increase our understanding of the pattern in the human heart. As a first step, the fiber path pattern in the adult mouse will be reconstructed from serial sections, using digitized coordinates and computer techniques. Then progressively younger prenatal mouse hearts will be examined to determine when an organized pattern emerges. This could be helpful in understanding the development of congenital cardiac lesions. Then, a sampling technique based on careful analysis of the extensive body of data obtained in the first two steps will be devised. The final step will be to use this sampling technique to reconstruct the fiber pattern in the postnatal human heart, both normal and congentially abnormal. The work is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the relations between the fiber geometry of the heart and its biophysical properties, such as contractility and conductivity, as well as to an understanding of the formation of certain congenital abnormalities of the human heart.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL029761-05
Application #
3340835
Study Section
Cardiovascular Study Section (CVA)
Project Start
1983-01-01
Project End
1988-12-31
Budget Start
1987-01-01
Budget End
1987-12-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
135646524
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
McLean, M; Prothero, J (1992) Determination of relative fiber orientation in heart muscle: methodological problems. Anat Rec 232:459-65
McLean, M; Prothero, J W (1991) Three-dimensional reconstruction from serial sections. V. Calibration of dimensional changes incurred during tissue preparation and data processing. Anal Quant Cytol Histol 13:269-78
McLean, M; Prothero, J (1991) Myofiber orientation in the weanling mouse heart. Am J Anat 192:425-41
McLean, M; Ross, M A; Prothero, J (1989) Three-dimensional reconstruction of the myofiber pattern in the fetal and neonatal mouse heart. Anat Rec 224:392-406
Stimac, G K; Sundsten, J W; Prothero, J S et al. (1988) Three-dimensional contour surfacing of the skull, face, and brain from CT and MR images and from anatomic sections. AJR Am J Roentgenol 151:807-10
McLean, M R; Prothero, J (1987) Coordinated three-dimensional reconstruction from serial sections at macroscopic and microscopic levels of resolution: the human heart. Anat Rec 219:374-7, 434-9
Prothero, J (1986) Methodological aspects of scaling in biology. J Theor Biol 118:259-86
Prothero, J (1986) Scaling of energy metabolism in unicellular organisms: a re-analysis. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol 83:243-8
Prothero, J S; Prothero, J W (1986) Three-dimensional reconstruction from serial sections. IV. The reassembly problem. Comput Biomed Res 19:361-73
Prothero, J S; Riggins, M; Lindsay, A et al. (1985) Three-dimensional reconstruction from serial sections III. AUTOSCAN, a software package in FORTRAN for semiautomated photomicrography. Comput Biomed Res 18:132-6

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