Cells need oxygen to survive, but during a heart attack, blood flow is restricted and cardiac cells can’t get the oxygen they need to stay alive. A new therapy, developed by researchers at the Coulombe Lab at Brown University may be able to provide the heart with the support it needs to recover after a heart attack, according to a study published in the journal Biomaterials.

Using Vesselucida 360 and Vesselucida Explorer to quantify blood vessels in the rat heart, the research team, led by Dr. Fabiola Munarin, observed improved cardiac function and saw evidence of revascularization 30 days after implanting engineered tissue into injured rat hearts. Critical elements in the implanted tissue included heart muscle cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells and alginate microspheres loaded with angiogenic growth factors (VEGF, bFGF, and Sonic Hedgehog).

By embedding this combination of heart cells and loaded alginate microspheres into the implanted tissue, the scientists were able to support the heart’s vascular network by delivering growth factors to the injured muscle. These growth factors worked with host cells to stimulate regeneration in the injured heart.

After implanting the engineered tissue, the researchers monitored the rats’ heart function over the next four weeks. They observed improvements in rats that had received tissue containing alginate microspheres loaded with angiogenic growth factors versus control groups, which had received either sham implants, only heart cells, or heart cells and unloaded alginate microspheres.

Thirty days after implantation, the research team sectioned 23 hearts. They made 3D reconstructions of four of them, after clearing and imaging with a florescence microscope. They then turned to Vesselucida 360 and Vesselucida Explorer to quantify vascular growth.

Image source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120033

“After examining different vessel quantification tools for use with neovessel formation in the heart, we chose to use Vesselucida 360 because it offered us flexibility in viewing and adjusting vessel geometries in 3D to accurately represent our microCT dataset. Also, the quantitative parameter extrapolation is excellent,” explained Dr. Kareen Coulombe.

Tracing the blood vessels in the four 3D heart reconstructions with Vesselucida 360, and then using Vesselucida Explorer for automated analysis, revealed an increase in vascular network density, vessel length, branching, and a wider distribution of blood vessel diameters. They also observed reduced tortuosity, or distortion of the vessel pathways — a sign that blood could travel more freely to the heart.

“Our results show for the first time the beneficial effects of integrating cardiac engineered tissues with a localized angiogenic therapy. With this combined therapy, we are able to induce the formation of new functional and perfused vessels in the implanted cardiac tissue, the revascularization of the ischemic heart, and the improvement of whole heart function.” (Munarin, et al 2020)

Munarin F, Kant RJ, Rupert CE, Khoo A, Coulombe KLK, Engineered human myocardium with local release of angiogenic proteins improves vascularization and cardiac function in injured rat hearts, Biomaterials (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120033.

The post New Therapy May Aid Heart Repair After Heart Attack appeared first on MBF Bioscience.

Specifically designed to recognize the intricacies of the vascular system, Vesselucida features sophisticated algorithms that quickly and accurately create 3D reconstructions of images and tissue specimens. Built-in analyses provide data on segments and node counts, frequency of anastomoses, as well as metrics on vessel surface and volume.

Automatic reconstruction of vascular structure labeled with tomato lectin
Image courtesy Dr. Stan Watson, University of Michigan, USA

Vesselucida 360 also features a full suite of tools, which lets researchers manually trace and edit 3D reconstructions to fine-tune particularly complex image data. Companion analysis software, Vesselucida Explorer performs sophisticated data analysis for scientists seeking answers to their most challenging research questions.

“For the first time, researchers studying microvasculature and how it is affected by illnesses, injuries and treatments for those afflictions, have a tool specifically designed for these studies,” says Jack Glaser, President of MBF Bioscience. “We believe Vesselucida will have a significant impact in advancing scientific research in this field.”

For a comprehensive evaluation on how Vesselucida 360 can meet your research needs, we invite you to consult with one of our MBF Bioscience staff scientists.

Visit https://www.mbfbioscience.com/vesselucida360 for more information about Vesselucida 360.

About MBF Bioscience:

MBF Bioscience creates quantitative imaging and visualization software for stereology, neuron reconstruction, vascular analysis, c. elegans behavior analysis and medical education, integrated with the world’s leading microscope systems, to empower research. Our development team and staff scientists are actively engaged with leading bioscience researchers, constantly working to refine our products based on state-of-the-art scientific advances in the field.

Founded as MicroBrightField, Inc. in 1988, we changed our name to MBF Bioscience in 2005 to reflect the expansion of our products and services to new microscopy techniques in all fields of biological research and education. While we continue to specialize in neuroscience research, our products are also used extensively in the research fields of stem cells, lung, kidney, cardiac, cancer, and toxicology.

MBF Bioscience has grown into a global business, with offices in North America, Europe, Japan, and South Korea, and a dealer network active on five continents.

Our commitment to innovative products and unrivaled customer support has gained high praise from distinguished scientists who use our products all over the world. Our flagship products Stereo Investigator and Neurolucida are the most widely-used analysis systems for stereology and neuron reconstruction.

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