Imaging Cardiac Function with Manganese

Calcium is integral to cardiomyocyte contraction. Alterations to calcium uptake and handling are present in many cardiomyopathies. Hence, a method that can quantify calcium within live cells, animals and patients would give valuable information on cardiac physiology and pathology. Manganese is a Calcium analogue which enters contractile cardiomyocytes through Calcium channels. Mn2+ levels can be quantified using magnetic resonance imaging- (MRI) and positron emission tomography-(PET) allowing interrogating cardiac function in living systems. This project will develop new Mn2+-based imaging approaches and test their sensitivity to changes in Ca2+ handling within cultured cells and live mouse hearts using state-of-the-art in-vitro analysis and in-vivo imaging.