Pasqualin C, Gannier F, Yu A, Malécot CO, Bredeloux P, Maupoil V. SarcOptiM for ImageJ: high-frequency online sarcomere length computing on stimulated cardiomyocytes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 311: C277-C283, 2016. First published June 22, 2016; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00094.2016.-Accurate measurement of cardiomyocyte contraction is a critical issue for scientists working on cardiac physiology and physiopathology of diseases implying contraction impairment. Cardiomyocytes contraction can be quantified by measuring sarcomere length, but few tools are available for this, and none is freely distributed. We developed a plug-in (SarcOptiM) for the ImageJ/Fiji image analysis platform developed by the National Institutes of Health. SarcOptiM computes sarcomere length via fast Fourier transform analysis of video frames captured or displayed in ImageJ and thus is not tied to a dedicated video camera. It can work in real time or offline, the latter overcoming rotating motion or displacement-related artifacts. SarcOptiM includes a simulator and video generator of cardiomyocyte contraction. Acquisition parameters, such as pixel size and camera frame rate, were tested with both experimental recordings of rat ventricular cardiomyocytes and synthetic videos. It is freely distributed, and its source code is available. It works under Windows, Mac, or Linux operating systems. The camera speed is the limiting factor, since the algorithm can compute online sarcomere shortening at frame rates Ͼ10 kHz. In conclusion, SarcOptiM is a free and validated user-friendly tool for studying cardiomyocyte contraction in all species, including human. cardiomyocyte contractility; sarcomere dynamic; video analysis; ImageJ plug-in; fast Fourier transform ISOLATED CARDIOMYOCYTE (CM) contractions can be recorded and measured with two main methods: cell shortening and sarcomere shortening. The latter is probably the most common and reliable technique used to characterize isolated CM contractile performance, because it does not depend on cell shape and size (4). Sarcomere shortening technique has applications in different research fields, including cardiovascular physiology, pathophysiology such as heart failure, pharmacology, and toxicology (2, 3, 6 -8, 11).Under transmission light microscopy, striated muscle cell sarcomeres show a transverse pattern due to the alternation of light (isotropic; I) and dark (anisotropic; A) bands, corresponding to the very regular organization of thin filaments of actin associated with regulatory proteins, such as tropomyosin and troponin (I band) and thick filaments of myosin (A band). These bands have a profile that can be assimilated to a sinusoidal curve. The frequency of this sinusoid, which represents the distance between the dark bands of the myosin filaments and, therefore, the sarcomere length (SL), can be extracted from Fourier spectrum analysis of the CM image.
International audienceThe transverse tubule system in mammalian striated muscle is highly organized and contributes to optimal and homogeneous contraction. Diverse pathologies such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation include disorganization of t-tubules and contractile dysfunction. Few tools are available for the quantification of the organization of the t-tubule system. We developed a plugin for the ImageJ/Fiji image analysis platform developed by the National Institutes of Health. This plugin (TTorg) analyzes raw confocal microscopy images. Analysis options include the whole image, specific regions of the image (cropping), and z-axis analysis of the same image. Batch analysis of a series of images with identical criteria is also one of the options. There is no need to either reorientate any specimen to the horizontal or to do a thresholding of the image to perform analysis. TTorg includes a synthetic "myocyte-like" image generator to test the plugin's efficiency in the user's own experimental conditions. This plugin was validated on synthetic images for different simulated cell characteristics and acquisition parameters. TTorg was able to detect significant differences between the organization of the t-tubule systems in experimental data of mouse ventricular myocytes isolated from wild-type and dystrophin-deficient mice. TTorg is freely distributed, and its source code is available. It provides a reliable, easy-to-use, automatic, and unbiased measurement of t-tubule organization in a wide variety of experimental conditions
The central administration of neurotensin (NT) or of its C-terminal hexapeptide fragment NT(8-13), produces strong analgesic effects in tests evaluating acute pain. The use of NT-derived peptides as pharmaceutical agents to relief severe pain in patients could be of great interest. Unfortunately, peptides do not readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier. We have observed that the cyclic NT(8-13) analogue, c(Lys-Lys-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu-Lys-Lys-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) (JMV2012, compound 1), when peripherally administered to mice produced analgesic and hypothermic effects, suggesting the peptide penetrates the blood-brain barrier and functions effectively like a drug. Moreover, dimeric compounds show increased potency compared to their corresponding monomer. We present the synthesis of the cyclic dimer compound 1 (JMV2012). In mice, compound 1 induced a profound hypothermia and a potent analgesia, even when peripherally administered. Compound 1 appears to be an ideal lead compound for the development of bioactive NT analogues as novel analgesics drugs.
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