Mechanisms of calcium release and propagation in cardiac cells. Do studies with confocal microscopy add to our understanding?
Laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) has a number of recognised advantages over other techniques of light microscopy for the study of cell and tissue structure. These include increased image spatial resolution, and even more importantly, removal of out-of-focus information from 2-dimensional images of 3-dimensional structures. Moreover, these features have also recently proved to be of immense benefit when coupled with ion-sensitive fluorescent probes, in the study of second messenger systems in relation to cell function. This review summarises the contribution that recent studies with LSCM have made to our understanding of the important patho-physiological state, spontaneous Ca(2+)-release (SCR) in isolated cardiac myocytes, and the relationship of this phenomenon to the induction of abnormal cell automaticity or cardiac arrhythmia. In some components of SCR and propagation, our existing knowledge has only been confirmed by recent results, while in others facets of this complex process, our understanding is being greatly enhanced by LSCM.
Williams
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Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
D000814:Aniline Compounds; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007834:Lasers; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014966:Xanthenes
D000814:Aniline Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014966:Xanthenes; C059715:Fluo-3; D002118:Calcium