Analysis of structure in human heart and relationship to performance in Dilated
Cardiac Myopathy (DCM)
Principal investigators
Professor Mark
Cannell, Dr
Brett Cowan, Dr Peter Ruygrok, Dr
Christian Soeller, Dr
Alistair Young, Dr
Ian Le Grice, Professor Peter Hunter
Summary of research
In this study, we will examine cellular structure and cell organisation in normal
human hearts as well as how it is altered in human hearts that are failing in the
condition known as Dilated Cardio Myopathy (DCM). By defining how contractile cells
are organised, we will gain greater insight into how force is produced as well as
how electrical signals propagate in normal (and abnormal) tissues. Imaging studies
have shown that within the DCM heart there are regional variations in contractile
performance that are unexplained.
We will use NMR images to define regions within hearts of patients awaiting transplantation
and then sample these regions after transplantation. We will make detailed measurement
of cellular structure and protein levels to examine what changes have occurred and
also compare regions with different contraction properties to clarify the basis
for the regional contractile differences in DCM.
Funding body
Health Research Council of New Zealand
(2005)
Top
Stretch and the heart
Principal investigators
Dr Marie Ward,
Professor
David Allen
Funding bodies
Top
How do glucose and copper conspire to make hearts fail?
Principal investigators
Professor Garth Cooper, Dr
Marie Ward, Dr
Anthony Phillips, Dr
David Crossman
PhD student
Linda Zhang
Funding body
Health Research Council of New Zealand
(2004)
Top
The interaction between action potential changes and defects in E-C coupling principle
Investigators
Professor Mark
Cannell, Dr
Christian Soeller, Dr
Marie Ward
Postdoctoral
fellow
Dr Patricia Cooper
Summary of research
In this project we will investigate
how changes in action potential configuration (as observed in heart failure) impact
on excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. By using murine cardiac cells under action-potential
clamp, the cells can be exposed to any desired action potential configuration.
Calcium
release inside the cell will be visualized as calcium "sparks" by confocal calcium
imaging. In human heart failure, the action potential can change its normal "spike and dome" morphology. We have previously shown that it is the spike repolarisation
that allows rapid synchronous calcium release (as calcium sparks) in the mouse.
We expect that as the spike becomes attenuated, the probability of synchronous activation
should decrease and late calcium sparks should occur. This spark de-synchronisation
will reduce E-C coupling efficiency as well as increase calcium entry which may
lead to arrhythmias. Arrhythmogenesis and the action of certain antiarrhythmic drugs
will also be examined to help clarify the sequelae of the diseased action potential.
Funding body
Health Research Council of New Zealand (2005)
Top
Integrative biology: a novel approach to understanding lens transparency
Principal investigators
Associate Professor Paul Donaldson, Dr
Mark Jacobs
Associate investigators
Professor Peter Hunter, Dr
Alistair Young, Professor
Mark Cannell, Professor Richard Matthias
Summary of research
Loss of lens transparency,
or cataract, is the leading cause of blindness in the world today. It has been proposed
that, in the absence of a blood supply, the lens operates an internal microcirculation
system which, by delivering nutrients, removing wastes, and controlling lens volume,
actively maintains lens transparency.
Associate Professor Paul Donaldson and Dr
Marc Jacobs, from the Department of Physiology, have developed novel imaging techniques
that allow the circulation system to be visualised within the lens for the first
time. By collaborating with researchers in the Bioengineering Institute at The University
of Auckland, the data produced by these imaging experiments will be used to test
a computer model that integrates the transport processes that generate the circulation,
with the 3D structure of the lens. This combination of expertise is unique in the
lens field and may indeed be the only way to rigorously test the circulation hypothesis.
This integrative biology approach has the potential to produce novel insights into
lens cataract formation, which should aid the development of novel anti-cataract
therapies to prevent blindness.
Funding body
Health Research Council of New Zealand (2005)
Top
