The role of biomechanical signaling is well accepted as a modulator of cardiac cell behavior and a requirement for cardiac morphogenesis. However, the small, fragile nature of the embryonic heart makes it difficult to determine transient mechanical homeostasis during heart development and search for causal links between biomechanical forces and cardiac cell behavior in vivo. Our work focuses on characterizing the regulatory role of biomechanical signals to direct cardiac morphogenesis and cell behavior. Towards this end, we have successfully established cardiac optogenetics to control heartbeat frequency in the embryonic mouse heart for the first time. We will combine this approach with second harmonic generation, an unbiased imaging approach to detect collagen deposition. Using optogenetic cardiac pacing and second harmonic generation imaging, we will look at how changes in heart biomechanics are consequential in the deposition and organization of cardiac collagen.
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