Optical mapping of electromechanics in intact organs

Abstract

Optical mapping has become a widely used and important method in cardiac electrophysiology. The method typically uses voltage-sensitive fluorescent dyes and high-speed cameras to image propagation of electrical waves. However, signals are highly susceptible to artifact caused by motion of the target organ. Consequently, cardiac optical mapping is traditionally performed in isolated, perfused organs whose contraction has been pharmacologically arrested. This has prevented optical mapping from being used to study interactions between electrical and mechanical motion. However, recently, a number of groups have developed methods to implement cardiac optical mapping in the presence of motion. These methods employ two basic strategies: (1) compensate for motion by measuring it or (2) ratiometry. In ratiometry, two signals are recorded from each site. The signals have differing sensitivity to membrane potential, but common motion artifact, which can be cancelled by taking the ratio of the two signals. Some methods use both of these strategies. Methods that measure motion have the additional advantage that this information can be used to quantify the organ’s mechanical function. Doing so enables combined “electromechanical mapping,” which allows optical study of electromechanical interactions. By allowing recording in the presence of motion, the new methods open the door to optical recording in in-vivo preparations. In addition, it is possible to implement electromechanical optical mapping techniques in organ systems other than the heart. For example, it was recently shown that optical mapping of slow wave propagation in the swine stomach is feasible. Such studies have the potential to uncover new information on the role of dysrhythmic slow wave propagation in gastric motility disorders.

Impact statement

Electrical and mechanical functions in the heart are bidirectionally coupled, yet are usually studied separately because of the different instrumentation technologies that are used in the two areas. Optical mapping is a powerful and widespread tool for imaging electrical propagation, but has traditionally required mechanical function to be arrested. Recently new methods have been devised that enable optical mapping to be performed in beating hearts and also to simultaneously quantify mechanical function. These new technologies promise to yield new information about electromechanical interactions in normal and pathological settings. They are also beginning to find application in other organ systems such as the gastrointestinal tract where they may provide new insight into motility disorders.