Three-dimensional analysis and visualization of myofibrillogenesis in adult cardiomyocytes by confocal microscopy

Confocal light microscopy has found its place among the standard analytical tools in cell and molecular biology. When combined with techniques such as immunofluorescence or fluorescent in situ hybridization, the spatial distribution of individual biological components can be traced within cells and tissues and, under certain circumstances, even with living samples. In this article, advanced 3D visualization techniques have been applied to analyze the distribution of myofibrillar proteins in cultured adult rat cardiomyocytes. By combining confocal immunofluorescence microscopy with specially designed three-dimensional visualization, we have obtained images which are similar to those obtained with the scanning electron microscope. The subcellular distribution of proteins expressed after transfection of cDNA is monitored in the cultured heart cells. The expressed proteins are distinguished from their endogenous counterparts by the use of an epitope tagging technique. The described methods are suitable to specifically monitor the behavior of several closely related isoprotein mutants in cell or tissue preparations.