Dual calcium-voltage optical mapping of regional voltage and calcium signals in intact murine -R2474S hearts.

Unlabelled: Abnormal regional variations in electrical and calcium homeostasis properties have been implicated in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardias (CPVT) attributable to abnormal RyR2-mediated store Ca release, but their underlying mechanism have not been well explored in intact hearts.

Methods: We performed in vivo and ex vivo studies including high throughput mapping of Ca transients (CaT) and transmembrane voltage (V) in murine wild-type (WT) and heterozygous -R2474S/+ hearts, before and during isoprenaline (ISO) challenge.

Results: ISO-challenged -R2474S/+ showed increased incidence of arrhythmia accompanied by abnormal Ca transients compared to WT.

Complex interplay between the microfluidic and optical properties of Hoplia sp. beetles.

Background: All living organisms exist in a world affected by many external influences, especially water and light. Photonic nanostructures present in certain insects, have evolved over time in response to diverse environmental conditions, facilitating communication within and between species, camouflage, thermoregulation, hydration, and more. Up to now, only a few insect species have been discovered whose elytron changes its color due to permeation of water (or its vapor) through cuticle.

Male and female atria exhibit distinct acute electrophysiological responses to sex steroids.

The electrophysiological properties of the hearts of women and men are different. These differences are at least partly mediated by the actions of circulating estrogens and androgens on the cardiomyocytes. Experimentally, much of our understanding in this field is based on studies focusing on ventricular tissue, with considerably less known in the context of atrial electrophysiology.