Effect of TGFbeta2 gene deletion on the right heart chamber
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. In more severe forms of CHDs, heart chambers may be poorly formed. CHDs are the most common cause of infant death due to birth defects. Most causes of CHDs are unknown. CHDs are related to known genetic conditions. For example, mutation in Transforming Growth Factor Beta-2 (TGFB2) gene is found in many babies born with a CHD. How the deletion of the Tgfb2 gene in the heart muscle affects the size of the heart chambers remains unknown. The purpose of my science project was to measure the size of heart chambers when the Tgfb2 gene is genetically mutated or deleted (i.e., knocked out) in mice. I used already cut thin (7 um) sections of the heart belonging to normal or wildtype (Tgfb2+/+) embryos and Tgfb2 knockout (Tgfb2-/-) embryos. Then I used microscope images from 3 mice from each group and a computer software (Zeiss AxioVision) to outline the right and left chambers, the right and left chamber wall thickness, and the right and left lumen (space filled with blood) to find out their areas. I averaged out all the numbers and it led me to a conclusion that when a Tgfb2 gene is knocked out the right heart chamber becomes smaller. My future experiment is to make a 3D reconstruction of the heart using a computer software (AMIRA), so that I can measure the volume of each ventricle to further confirm my findings.
Effect of TGFbeta2 gene deletion on the right heart chamber
HSS 203
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. In more severe forms of CHDs, heart chambers may be poorly formed. CHDs are the most common cause of infant death due to birth defects. Most causes of CHDs are unknown. CHDs are related to known genetic conditions. For example, mutation in Transforming Growth Factor Beta-2 (TGFB2) gene is found in many babies born with a CHD. How the deletion of the Tgfb2 gene in the heart muscle affects the size of the heart chambers remains unknown. The purpose of my science project was to measure the size of heart chambers when the Tgfb2 gene is genetically mutated or deleted (i.e., knocked out) in mice. I used already cut thin (7 um) sections of the heart belonging to normal or wildtype (Tgfb2+/+) embryos and Tgfb2 knockout (Tgfb2-/-) embryos. Then I used microscope images from 3 mice from each group and a computer software (Zeiss AxioVision) to outline the right and left chambers, the right and left chamber wall thickness, and the right and left lumen (space filled with blood) to find out their areas. I averaged out all the numbers and it led me to a conclusion that when a Tgfb2 gene is knocked out the right heart chamber becomes smaller. My future experiment is to make a 3D reconstruction of the heart using a computer software (AMIRA), so that I can measure the volume of each ventricle to further confirm my findings.
