Candida Laura Desjardins1, Yong Chen2,
Julian Stelzer1, Xin Yu2,3
1Physiology, Case Western
Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; 2Biomedical
Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; 3Case
Center for Imaging Research, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, United
States
This study investigated the biomechanical consequences of altering the contractile properties and structural stability of cardiac myocytes. Myocardial wall strain and torsion were quantified in mouse models of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy using DENSE MRI. The amplitude and time course of strain and torsion development was severely altered in mice with complete deletion of myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) or muscle LIM protein (MLP). In addition, the heterozygous cMyBP-C mice showed normal global function but decreased strain and torsion, suggesting the sensitivity of DENSE MRI in detecting subtle changes in contractility at an early stage of disease progression.