Fluorescence Deconvolution Microscopy and cellular modeling to understand heart repair after ventricular unloading

It was decided that we study these receptors as not only therapeutic targets in certain stages of heart disease, but also as diagnostic markers in heart failure. Therefore, using deconvolution microscopy and fluorescent probes, we used to visualize adrenoreceptors in left ventricular core/tissue samples taken from patients at the times of surgery for implanting a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), then also took a tissue sample when the device was removed, either due to recovery, or due to the necessity for organ transplantation. This fluorescence microscopy was employed to acquire images and construct 3D models of adrenoreceptors in tissue sections in order to better understand adrenoreceptor changes as a result of ventricular unloading. We found that adrenoreceptors were seen in the heart muscle as clumps, congregated into little groups in diseased tissue but, after unloading/resting with the LVAD, the adrenoreceptors were redistributed throughout the myocardial muscle fibers, and in a much more homogeneous fashion, suggesting a much better regulation of calcium movements and therefore heart contraction-relaxtion. This work gives a comprehensive and detailed view of adrenoreceptor redistributions and regulations and adds to the research that has been previously reported, demonstrating that cardiac recovery with LVAD assisted unloading involves adrenoreceptors and their redistribution and up-regulation, directing us to consider interventions that can increase adrenoreceptor numbers via combined therapeutic strategies.