Department of Physiology
Cellular Electrophysiology
Research Group of Cellular Electrophysiology
Main Activities
- drug effects on electrophysiological properties of cardiac cells – changes of ionic currents and action potential configuration
- t-tubular characteristics and functional impact of t-tubules in cardiomyocytes
- functional impact of ionic channel mutations associated with inherited diseases (g., long QT syndrome, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation)
- changes in neuronal excitability caused by neuropsychiatric diseases or drugs
Unique Features
- from ionic channel dysfunction to arrhythmia - complex functional analysis of ionic channel mutations using various techniques
- complex analysis of drug-channel interactions
- unique mathematical models of cardiomyocytes incorporating t-tubules
- analysis of changes in neuronal excitability on both cellular and tissue level
Methods and Methodologies Provided
- whole-cell patch-clamp measurement on ventricular and atrial cardiomyocytes enzymatically isolated from hearts of small laboratory animals (mostly rats) perfused according to Langendorff
- whole-cell patch-clamp measurement on cardiomyocytes enzymatically isolated from dysfunctional hearts of patients, who underwent heart transplantation, eventually on analogical cells isolated from healthy pig heart
- whole-cell patch-clamp measurement on a cell line transiently expressing human ionic channels
- whole-cell patch-clamp and multielectrode array measurements on human cardiomyocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells
- mathematical modelling – human, guinea-pig, rat, and mouse ventricular cell models are available; new models are being developed
- whole-cell patch-clamp and multielectrode array measurements on human neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells and on primary rat neural cultures
Key Equipment
- patch-clamp set-ups, programmable horizontal puller
- set-ups for isolation of cardiomyocytes using perfusion according to Langendorff (either constant flow or constant pressure)
- microelectrode array set up
- basic laboratory equipment
Experimental Cardiology
Research Group of Experimental Cardiology
Main Activities
- study of myocardial remodelling due to various factors including social
- study of myocardial electrical activity and contractility and effect of various pharmaceuticals and compounds on it
- sigma receptors and their regulatory function in cardiovascular system
Unique Features
- study cardiovascular system from molecular to whole-body levels
- advanced methods of recording and analysis of obtained biological signals (such as deep machine learning, etc.).
Methods and Methodologies Provided
- animal models (mouse, rat, guinea pig, and rabbit). All members of the team hold the Certificate of professional competence for designing experiments and experimental projects under Section 15e of Act No 246/19992 Coll, on the Protection of Animals against Cruelty
- isolation and cultivation of adult rat cardiomyocytes and cell lines
- multicellular preparations: papillary muscle, atrial auricle and isolated vessel
- isolated heart perfused according to Langendorff
- working heart according to Neely
- whole-body models: non-invasive ECG recording, non-invasive blood pressure measurement, telemetric monitoring, invasive left-ventricular volume and pressure analysis
- advanced analysis of biological signals
Key Equipment
- standard equipment for cell culturing (flowbox, CO2 incubator, centrifuge, etc.)
- inhalation anaesthesia
- perfusion set for isolated heart model and for working heart model
- perfusion bath for multicellular preparations
- ECG Tunnel for non-invasive ECG recording, CODA8 for non-invasive blood pressure measurement, STELLAR Telemetry, PowerLab 16/35 with standard equipment for ECG recording, Millar catheters for heart catheterization
- LabChart 8 Pro, software for biosignal analysis
Non-invasive Methods in Cardiology
Research Group of Non-invasive Methods in Cardiology
Main Activities
- estimation of cardiovascular system
- blood pressure measurement and its regulation
- baroreflex and baroreflex sensitivity studied by non-invasive methods
- baroreflex sensitivity during ontogenetic development
- measurement of baroreflex sensitivity in hypertension development
- effect of anti-tumor therapy with cardiotoxic side effects on blood pressure regulation
- relationship between baroreflex sensitivity and intima-media thicknes of arteria carotis in hypertension
- ultrasound examination in cardiovascular physiology.
Unique Features
- measurement of blood pressure according to Penaz method
- estimation of baroreflex sensitivity by spectral analysis
Methods and Methodologies Provided
- Penáz method
- estimation of baroreflex sensitivity
- estimation of variability of circulatory parameters
Key Equipment
- Sfygmocor (ArtCor Medical, Australia)
- Finometer (FMS, Netherland)
- Finapres NOVA (FMS, Netherland)
- Finapres /Ohmeda, USA)
- Spiroergometry (Ganshorn, Germany)
- ECG (Seiva, CZ),
- 24h blood pressure monitoring (Seiva)
- Tanita – personal weight;
- ultrasound equipment: NEMIO Toshiba + LG LOGIQ V2.
Cell Physiology and Core Facilities
Research Group of Cell Physiology and Core Facilities
Main Activities
- design and production of recombinant proteins, mainly ferritins.
- design and synthesis of palladium coordination complexes with catalytic activities
- design and synthesis of fluorescent sensors for palladium and other transition metals
- synthesis and production of fluorescent probes for cellular organelles
- oxidation stress in physiological and pathophysiological processes
- small signalling molecules – gasotransmitters (NO, H2S, CO) and their role in regulation of cell proliferation
- estimation of toxicity of natural compounds (acute, subchronic and chronic tests of toxicity according to OECD methodologies)
- study of cell deaths
- study of wound healing
- phytotoxicity and accumulation of pharmaceuticals in plants and their metabolization in plants
Unique features
- development and production of recombinant ferritins – human H-chain ferritin, horse L-chain ferritin, ferritins from Pyrococcus furiosus, Thermotoga maritima, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, bacterioferritin from Escherichia coli – as drug nanotransporters
- production of unique palladium sensors based on single benzene fluorophores, ultrafast palladium sensor based on propargyloxy pyrene trisulfate
- application of fluorescent probes in study of oxidation stress and gasotransmitters
- measurements of markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress in biological samples
- measurements of activities of enzyme antioxidants
- estimation of antioxidant capacity and amounts of non-enzyme antioxidants
- application of microscopic techniques in the study of cell deaths
Methods and Methodologies Provided
- animal models (mouse, rat, guinea pig, and rabbit). All members of the team hold the Certificate of professional competence for designing experiments and experimental projects under Section 15e of Act No 246/19992 Coll, on the Protection of Animals against Cruelty
- all cell culture techniques
- sample preparation – sectioning, staining
- fluorescent and confocal microscopy (cell imaging, histology and immunohistochemistry, visualisation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, H2S)
- spectrophotometry, fluorimetry (reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, antioxidants, biochemical parameters)
- common organic synthesis
Key Equipment
- standard cells culture equipment,
- fluorescent cell culture microscopes
- fluorescence and confocal microscopes
- live cell imaging microscope (3D Microscope NanoLive)
- Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader
- bacterial culture and protein production