Stephenson, RS, Boyett, MR, Hart, G, Nikolaidou, T, Cai, X, Corno, AF, Alphonso, N, Jeffery, N and Jarvis, JC (2012) Contrast Enhanced Micro-Computed Tomography Resolves the 3-Dimensional Morphology of the Cardiac Conduction System in Mammalian Hearts. PLOS ONE, 7 (4). pp. 1-11. ISSN 1932-6203

Preview

Text Contrast enhanced micro-computed tomography resolves the 3-dimensional morphology of the cardiac conduction system in mammalian hearts..pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

The general anatomy of the cardiac conduction system (CCS) has been known for 100 years, but its complex and irregular three-dimensional (3D) geometry is not so well understood. This is largely because the conducting tissue is not distinct from the surrounding tissue by dissection. The best descriptions of its anatomy come from studies based on serial sectioning of samples taken from the appropriate areas of the heart. Low X-ray attenuation has formerly ruled out micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) as a modality to resolve internal structures of soft tissue, but incorporation of iodine, which has a high molecular weight, into those tissues enhances the differential attenuation of X-rays and allows visualisation of fine detail in embryos and skeletal muscle. Here, with the use of a iodine based contrast agent (I2KI), we present contrast enhanced micro-CT images of cardiac tissue from rat and rabbit in which the three major subdivisions of the CCS can be differentiated from the surrounding contractile myocardium and visualised in 3D. Structures identified include the sinoatrial node (SAN) and the atrioventricular conduction axis: the penetrating bundle, His bundle, the bundle branches and the Purkinje network. Although the current findings are consistent with existing anatomical representations, the representations shown here offer superior resolution and are the first 3D representations of the CCS within a single intact mammalian heart.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	MD Multidisciplinary
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport & Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
Related URLs:	Author
Date Deposited:	15 Oct 2015 08:53
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 13:54
DOI or ID number:	10.1371/journal.pone.0035299
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/2160

View Item