心肌胞内钙瞬变的记录方法——快速二维扫描法与线扫描法

目的:采用共聚焦显微镜快速二维扫描方式和线扫描方式记录心肌胞内钙瞬变,并分析其优缺点。方法:标本为急性分离的SD大鼠心肌单细胞,胞内钙信号由钙指示剂fluo4-AM标记,其变化由共聚显微镜(LSM510META系统)记录。钙瞬变由局部场刺激诱发,刺激器和共聚焦成像系统之间通过触发连接同步工作。结果:快速二维扫描方式可在二维平面上反映全细胞范围内钙瞬变的动态过程,空间信息较全面;特别地,当心肌细胞由于药物或病理状态的改变而出现胞内钙稳态失衡时,快速二维扫描的结果更有利于了解胞内钙变化;其结果可制成动画,真实而直观地再现心肌细胞胞内钙瞬变的动态过程。线扫描方式的时间分辨率较高,也有一定的空间分辨率,可反映钙瞬变的时空特征,并可分析细胞收缩的情况。二种扫描方式所得的结果在实质上是一致的,但各有其侧重点和优缺点,在反映心肌细胞功能状态方面具有互补作用。结论:两种扫描方式所得的结果综合起来更有利于对胞内钙信号变化的特征和意义进行正确解读。     

动脉平滑肌细胞内钙瞬变与自发性瞬时外向电流同步记录技术(英文)

本文旨在建立一种可同步观察细胞内信号分子和细胞膜离子通道变化之间相互关系的实时研究方法。联合应用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(laser scanning confocal microscopy,LSCM)显微成像技术和全细胞穿孔膜片钳技术,在急性酶分离的小鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞上同步记录自发性瞬时外向电流(spontaneous transient outward currents,STOCs)和细胞内的钙瞬变。在全细胞模式膜片钳记录平滑肌细胞膜钾电流的同时,LSCM可准确记录到胞浆内出现的钙瞬变。此技术对于从分子水平揭示细胞内信号转导过程和离子通道相关疾病的机制有重要意义。     

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜活细胞成像方法优化

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜可用于固定样品和活细胞样品的成像,近年来得到了广泛的应用。本文介绍了激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的基本原理及其在活细胞成像中的应用,并以FV10-ASW Viewer4.2软件为例,从扫描速度、分辨率、降噪、光电倍增调节、多参数协同优化、成像质量评估、图像后期处理等多个角度总结了激光扫描共聚焦活细胞成像系统的方法优化和推荐参数设置。本文的工作可以为活细胞实验提供一定参考。     

基于激光共聚焦同步双扫描技术的LC3脱乙酰化修饰调控自噬的机理研究

激光共聚焦同步双扫描(simultaneous,SIM)技术在常规扫描单元的基础上,引入一个同步扫描单元(SIM scanner),该技术独立控制了两个激光束,一个用于激光光刺激,另一个用于同步成像。本实验中,采用激光共聚焦同步双扫描系统的405 nm和488 nm激光分别对细胞的特定部位进行刺激和同步成像,实时检测了LC3复合物的形成,记录并分析了乙酰化前后LC3的光动力学变化过程,证实了LC3的脱乙酰化修饰是自噬性降解所必须的,本实验体系为激光共聚焦双扫描技术的推广提供了一个很好的平台。SIM技术的应用,解决了刺激过程无法成像的问题,为漂白后荧光恢复(fluorescence recovery after photobleaching,FRAP)、漂白后荧光损失(fluorescence loss in photobleaching,FLIP)和光诱导激活等研究提供了最佳的解决方案,可作为光刺激的一种实验模式在很多实验设计中进行延伸应用。     

小鼠胰腺腺泡细胞钙振荡的激光共聚焦成像研究方法

目的：建立一种简易高效的成年小鼠胰腺腺泡细胞钙振荡的激光共聚焦成像研究方法。方法：取成年昆明小鼠胰脏,用胶原酶法急性分离得胰腺腺泡细胞,加荧光染料fluo-4-AM标记胞内钙;以乙酰胆碱（ACh）为兴奋剂作用于胰腺腺泡细胞,激光扫描共聚焦显微镜发射488 nm激光并同步、实时、动态地记录此过程中胰腺腺泡细胞产生的钙振荡。结果：1一定浓度的ACh（如100 nmol/L）可稳定地激发胰腺腺泡细胞产生典型钙振荡,且此钙振荡可被阿托品完全阻断;2胞浆内不同部位的钙振荡有强弱不同,但呈同步变化节律;而不同细胞间的钙振荡强弱和节律往往不同;3钙振荡的幅度和节律与Ach具有剂量依赖效应。结论：小鼠胰腺腺泡细胞钙振荡的激光共聚焦成像研究方法简单易行、直观形象、高效、灵活,可作为常规方法使用,具有良好的应用前景和推广价值。     

激光辐照微藻的显微图像观察及荧光定量分析

利用激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察激光辐照前后微藻细胞叶绿体自体荧光图像,并对荧光变化进行定量分析。用Nd:YAP激光辐照扁藻、金藻及三角褐指藻。实验结果表明:Nd:YAP激光辐照后,藻细胞荧光光谱峰位不变,但荧光峰值发生较大变化,在激光促长剂量辐照下,几种微藻细胞的荧光强度均比对照组强。激光辐照微藻产生的生理刺激效应可以反映在细胞的荧光特性与强度变化上。激光共聚焦扫描显微镜可以作为微藻激光生物效应研究的一种有效方法。     

胞外镁离子对SD成年大鼠心肌细胞胞内钙信号的影响

目的：研究胞外不同浓度的镁离子对SD成年大鼠心肌细胞钙瞬变的影响。方法：采用激光共聚焦显微镜系统同步配合阈上电刺激探测心肌细胞钙瞬变。结果：胞外低浓度的镁离子（0 mmol /L,0.5 mmol /L; 正常镁离子浓度为1 mmol/L）可以升高钙瞬变的峰值（P〈0.05）,但不影响钙瞬变的持续时间（以钙瞬变的半高宽表示）（P〉0.05）;胞外高浓度的镁离子（2.5 mmol /L,5 mmol /L,10 mmol /L）均可抑制钙瞬变的峰值（P〈0.05）;其中5 mmol/L和10 mmol/L的胞外镁还能延长钙瞬变的持续时间（P〈0.05）。结论：正常情况下镁对心肌细胞钙瞬变有抑制作用。     

内窥式激光共聚焦显微镜

为了能在活体内进行实时的细胞尺寸水平的共聚焦观测,科研工作者开展了大量的将激光共聚焦显微镜和内窥镜技术相结合的内窥式激光共聚焦显微镜的研究.本文主要列举了一些国外典型的内窥式激光共聚焦的结构及性能参数,介绍了我们在这方面取得的成果.我们建立的结构的横向分辨率为3.3 μm,轴向分辨率为16.6 μm.     

双光子显微镜在生物医学中的应用及其进展

光学显微镜的发展历史是一段不断提高显微镜的分辨率和对比度的历史。双光子显微镜是近30年来非线性显微镜的研究发展的代表。它在分辨率上与共聚焦显微镜相当,但在成像的层析穿透深度上有显著提高,并且大大减少了光毒性与光漂白。由于生物细胞组织中富有各种自家荧光源,因此双光子显微镜被广泛应用于皮肤组织甚至癌组织以及细胞的成像。基于共聚焦扫描显微镜的双光子显微镜可以很容易的与二次谐波显微镜组合,对皮肤组织中的重要成分胶原纤维进行成像。双光子显微镜还可以结合其他非线性光学现象对组织以及细胞进行成像,显示其强大的生命力。将来随着携带方便且廉价的双光子显微镜的出现,双光子显微镜有望在临床医学上发挥其有效的作用。     

基于动态聚焦的声聚焦光声内窥成像算法研究

目的 声聚焦光声内窥成像具有成像深度大的优点,是一种非常有前景的功能成像技术,该技术被广泛应用于直肠、食道等内窥成像中。声聚焦光声内窥成像通常采用基于单个聚焦超声传感器的侧向扫描方式,同时采用传统的B扫描方法进行重建,会大大降低图像质量。为了获得高质量的图像,本文提出了几种动态聚焦的声聚焦光声内窥成像算法。方法 本文使用几种动态聚焦算法进行了数值仿真,并搭建系统进行了仿体实验验证,从横向分辨率和信噪比等多方面比较了各算法在动态聚焦中的成像效果。结果 相比B扫描方法,动态聚焦后的图像在离焦区域的横向分辨率与信噪比方面都有提升,仿真模拟中最高可将离焦区域的成像目标分辨率提升约26倍,其信噪比经动态聚焦后最高可提高2.3倍左右,实验中的远距离点目标经动态聚焦重建后分辨率提升3～6倍。结论 整体而言,基于时空响应的算法和合成孔径聚焦重建算法是在实验条件下更为适用的算法。本工作对后续的声聚焦光声内窥成像的设计具有指导意义。     

DMA增加正常大鼠心肌细胞钙瞬变和收缩

实验观察了钠氢交换或钠钙交换抑制剂 5 (N ,N 二甲基 )氨氯吡咪 (DMA)对正常和心肌肥厚大鼠分离心室肌细胞钙瞬变和细胞收缩的影响。通过负载荧光染料Fura 2 /Am ,应用离子影像分析系统 (IonImagingSystem)同步测定离体大鼠心肌细胞钙瞬变和细胞长度。结果表明 :DMA 10 μmol/L分别使钙瞬变和细胞缩短从对照组的 2 0 9.6 0± 5 4.96和 3.0 7± 0 .97μm增加到 2 38.5 0± 80 .41和 4.0 7± 1.0 2 μm (P <0 .0 5 ,n =7)。应用特异性反向钠钙交换阻断剂KB R7943可完全阻断DMA的激动作用。DMA还可使尼卡地平抑制L 型钙通道后的钙瞬变和细胞收缩增加。在肥厚心肌细胞 ,DMA表现出相同的药理作用 ,但对钙瞬变和细胞缩短的刺激作用更强。结果表明 :DMA可通过反向钠钙交换途径增加正常和肥厚大鼠心肌细胞钙瞬变和细胞收缩 ,且对肥厚心肌细胞的影响比对正常心肌细胞大。     

Spatial Ca(2+) distribution in contracting skeletal and cardiac muscle cells

The spatiotemporal distribution of intracellular Ca(2+) release in contracting skeletal and cardiac muscle cells was defined using a snapshot imaging technique. Calcium imaging was performed on intact skeletal and cardiac muscle cells during contractions induced by an action potential (AP). The sarcomere length of the skeletal and cardiac cells was approximately 2 micrometer. Imaging Rhod-2 fluorescence only during a very brief (7 ns) snapshot of excitation light minimized potential image-blurring artifacts due to movement and/or diffusion. In skeletal muscle cells, the AP triggered a large fast Ca(2+) transient that peaked in less than 3 ms. Distinct subsarcomeric Ca(2+) gradients were evident during the first 4 ms of the skeletal Ca(2+) transient. In cardiac muscle, the AP-triggered Ca(2+) transient was much slower and peaked in approximately 100 ms. In contrast to the skeletal case, there were no detectable subsarcomeric Ca(2+) gradients during the cardiac Ca(2+) transient. Theoretical simulations suggest that the subsarcomeric Ca(2+) gradients seen in skeletal muscle were detectable because of the high speed and synchrony of local Ca(2+) release. Slower asynchronous recruitment of local Ca(2+) release units may account for the absence of detectable subsarcomeric Ca(2+) gradients in cardiac muscle. The speed and synchrony of local Ca(2+) gradients are quite different in AP-activated contracting cardiac and skeletal muscle cells at normal resting sarcomere lengths.     

The contraction of smooth muscle cells of intrapulmonary arterioles is determined by the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations induced by 5-HT and KCl

Increased resistance of the small blood vessels within the lungs is associated with pulmonary hypertension and results from a decrease in size induced by the contraction of their smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To study the mechanisms that regulate the contraction of intrapulmonary arteriole SMCs, the contractile and Ca(2+) responses of the arteriole SMCs to 5-hydroxytrypamine (5-HT) and KCl were observed with phase-contrast and scanning confocal microscopy in thin lung slices cut from mouse lungs stiffened with agarose and gelatin. 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent contraction of the arterioles. Increasing concentrations of extracellular KCl induced transient contractions in the SMCs and a reduction in the arteriole luminal size. 5-HT induced oscillations in [Ca(2+)](i) within the SMCs, and the frequency of these Ca(2+) oscillations was dependent on the agonist concentration and correlated with the extent of sustained arteriole contraction. By contrast, KCl induced Ca(2+) oscillations that occurred with low frequencies and were preceded by small, localized transient Ca(2+) events. The 5-HT-induced Ca(2+) oscillations and contractions occurred in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) and were resistant to Ni(2+) and nifedipine but were abolished by caffeine. KCl-induced Ca(2+) oscillations and contractions were abolished by the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) and the presence of Ni(2+), nifedipine, and caffeine. Arteriole contraction was induced or abolished by a 5-HT(2)-specific agonist or antagonist, respectively. These results indicate that 5-HT, acting via 5-HT(2) receptors, induces arteriole contraction by initiating Ca(2+) oscillations and that KCl induces contraction via Ca(2+) transients resulting from the overfilling of internal Ca(2+) stores. We hypothesize that the magnitude of the sustained intrapulmonary SMC contraction is determined by the frequency of Ca(2+) oscillations and also by the relaxation rate of the SMC.     

钙激活氯离子通道对大鼠肺动脉张力的调节作用

目的：研究钙激活氯离子通道及其通道阻断剂尼氟灭酸（niflumic acid,NFA）、indaryloxyacetic acid（IAA-94）在苯福林（phenylephrine,PE）引起的肺动脉收缩中的作用。方法：常规离体血管灌流法检测肺动脉环张力;采用钙荧光探针（Fura-2／AM）负载急性酶分离法（胶原酶Ⅰ型和木瓜蛋白酶）获得的大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）,观察NFA和IAA-94对PE诱导的PASMCs胞浆游离钙离子浓度（[Ca^2＋]i）的影响,用荧光分光光度计法检测[Ca^2＋]i。结果：钙激活氯离子通道阻断剂NFA和IAA-94可以舒张PE引起的肺动脉环收缩;NFA和IAA-94对KCl引起的血管收缩无影响;PE可以引起[Ca^2＋]i升高,NFA和IAA-94对PE诱导[Ca^2＋]i升高无影响。结论：钙激活氯离子通道在生理状态下与血管活性药（PE）引起的肺动脉张力变化有关,这为研究其在低氧肺血管收缩中的作用提供了新的线索。     

Microscopic heat pulses induce contraction of cardiomyocytes without calcium transients

It was recently demonstrated that laser irradiation can control the beating of cardiomyocytes and hearts, however, the precise mechanism remains to be clarified. Among the effects induced by laser irradiation on biological tissues, temperature change is one possible effect which can alter physiological functions. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism by which heat pulses, produced by infra-red laser light under an optical microscope, induce contractions of cardiomyocytes. Here we show that microscopic heat pulses induce contraction of rat adult cardiomyocytes. The temperature increase, ΔT, required for inducing contraction of cardiomyocytes was dependent upon the ambient temperature; that is, ΔT at physiological temperature was lower than that at room temperature. Ca(2+) transients, which are usually coupled to contraction, were not detected. We confirmed that the contractions of skinned cardiomyocytes were induced by the heat pulses even in free Ca(2+) solution. This heat pulse-induced Ca(2+)-decoupled contraction technique has the potential to stimulate heart and skeletal muscles in a manner different from the conventional electrical stimulations.     

The mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling in phenylephrine-stimulated human saphenous vein

The human saphenous vein (HSV) is the most widely used graft in coronary artery revascularization procedures and is susceptible to spasm perioperatively. The aim of this study is to elucidate the mechanism(s) of agonist-induced excitation-contraction coupling in this vessel. Isometric contraction experiments were combined with in situ smooth muscle intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) imaging by confocal microscopy of intact undistended HSV segments during activation with phenylephrine (PE; 50 microM). Stimulation with PE produced a sustained contraction. Preincubation with 5 microM nifedipine, a blocker of the L-type voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel, or 50 microM SKF-96365, a blocker of both the voltage- and receptor-operated channels, reduced force generation by 25-30%. Ca(2+) imaging revealed that PE elicited only a transient rise in [Ca(2+)](i), suggesting that Ca(2+) plays only a minor role. However, a requirement for basal Ca(2+) levels was demonstrated when PE contractions could not be maintained in Ca(2+)-free medium. In light of the transient Ca(2+) response, it appears that signals other than Ca(2+) must maintain the tonic contraction elicited by PE, such as those that sensitize the myofilaments to Ca(2+). Application of HA-1077 (a Rho kinase inhibitor) at the peak of the contraction completely abolished the plateau phase of the response, whereas application of genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) reduced this phase by approximately 50%. The foregoing results suggest that, whereas the transient Ca(2+) signal can contribute to the development of force, maintenance of the plateau phase of the PE contraction in the HSV is the result of myofilament Ca(2+) sensitization by Rho kinase and tyrosine phosphorylation. The elucidation of the mechanisms of excitation-contraction coupling in the HSV may be useful for the development of therapeutic strategies for the alleviation of vein graft spasm.     

P2X1 receptors mediate sympathetic postjunctional Ca2+ transients in mesenteric small arteries

Brief, spatially localized Ca(2+) transients occur in the smooth muscle adjacent to perivascular nerves of small arteries during neurogenic contractions. We named these "junctional Ca(2+) transients" (jCaTs) and postulated that they arose from Ca(2+) entering smooth muscle cells through P2X(1) receptors activated by neurally released ATP. Nevertheless, the lack of potent, subtype-selective P2X-receptor antagonists made determining the exact molecular identity of the channels difficult. Here we used small, pressurized mesenteric arteries from P2X(1)-receptor-deficient mice (KO) to test the hypothesis that jCaTs arise from Ca(2+) entering the smooth muscle cell via P2X(1) receptors. In wild-type (WT) arteries, confocal microscopy of fluo-4 fluorescence during electrical field stimulation (EFS) of perivascular sympathetic nerves revealed jCaTs in the smooth muscle cells adjacent to the perivascular nerves, similar to those reported previously in rat arteries, and alpha-latrotoxin (2.5 nM) markedly increased the frequency of "spontaneous" jCaTs. In the KO arteries, however, neither EFS nor alpha-latrotoxin elicited any jCaTs. A potent P2X-receptor agonist, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (10.0 microM), elicited strong contractions and increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in WT arteries but elicited neither in KO arteries. A biphasic vasoconstriction in response to EFS was observed in WT arteries. In KO arteries, however, the initial rapid, transient component of the biphasic vasoconstriction was absent. The data support the hypothesis that jCaTs represent Ca(2+) that enters the smooth muscle cells through P2X(1) receptors activated by neurally released ATP and that this Ca(2+) is involved in the initial rapid component of the sympathetic neurogenic contraction.     

Responses of Ca2+-binding proteins to localized,transient changes in intracellular [Ca2+

In smooth muscle cells, various transient, localized [Ca(2+)] changes have been observed that are thought to regulate cell function without necessarily inducing contraction. Although a great deal of effort has been put into detecting these transients and elucidating the mechanisms involved in their generation, the extent to which these transient Ca(2+) signals interact with intracellular Ca(2+)-binding molecules remains relatively unknown. To understand how the spatial and temporal characteristics of an intracellular Ca(2+) signal influence its interaction with Ca(2+)-binding proteins, mathematical models of Ca(2+) diffusion and regulation in smooth muscle cells were used to study Ca(2+) binding to prototypical proteins with one or two Ca(2+)-binding sites. Simulations with the models: (1) demonstrate the extent to which the rate constants for Ca(2+)-binding to proteins and the spatial and temporal characteristics of different Ca(2+) transients influence the magnitude and time course of the responses of these proteins to the transients; (2) predict significant differences in the responses of proteins with one or two Ca(2+)-binding sites to individual Ca(2+) transients and to trains of transients; (3) demonstrate how the kinetic characteristics determine the fidelity with which the responses of Ca(2+)-sensitive molecules reflect the magnitude and time course of transient Ca(2+) signals. Overall, this work demonstrates the clear need for complete information about the kinetics of Ca(2+) binding for determining how well Ca(2+)-binding molecules respond to different types of Ca(2+) signals. These results have important implications when considering the possible modulation of Ca(2+)- and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent proteins by localized intracellular Ca(2+) transients in smooth muscle cells and, more generally, in other cell types.