Ginal Ca2+ sparks was shown in Figure 4Ac. The spatial widths of Ca2+ sparks (Figure 4Ca,b) show that Ca2+ diffusion from the center of Ca2+ sparks to periphery was asymmetric, indicating that the distribution of RyRs in a cluster of Ca2+ release channels is anomalous or inhomogeneous in hiPSC-CMs. Ca2+ sparks also present multiple ridges in the threedimensional plots (Figure 4Ba,b) and temporal profiles (Figure 4Da,b) of Ca2+ sparks, suggesting the these Ca2+ sparks may originate from one or several different clusters of RyRs. About 90 of Ca2+ sparks possess this temporal-spatial feature. However, the spatial width in an overlay of Ca2+ spark showed a symmetrical profile (Figure 4Cc).Calcium Sparks in iPSC-Derived CardiomyocytesFigure 2. Spontaneous Ca2+ transients in hiPSC-CMs. (A) Representative frame-scan (X-Y 23115181 mode) images of spontaneous Ca2+ transients (a and b). (B) A typical line scan (X-T mode) image of spontaneous Ca2+ transients obtained from white line in panel Aa and (C) the corresponding amplitudes (F/F0) of Ca2+ transients (n = 16). (D) A representative transverse line scan (X-T mode) image obtained from green line in panel Aa (a) and the corresponding intensity profiles (b) of Ca2+ transients. Abbreviations: F/F0, buy Acetovanillone fluorescence (F) normalized to baseline fluorescence (F0); s, seconds. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055266.gEffects of Ryanodine on Ca2+ SparksCa2+ sparks are local and transient calcium release events from a cluster of RyRs in the SR. Delineating the properties of RyRs in hiPSC-CMs is thus a matter of fundamental importance to Ca2+ sparks. In the present study, the spark frequency FDHM and FWHM showed significant increase (P,0.05), whereas F/F0 was not significant changed after Licochalcone-A manufacturer application of 50 nM ryanodine (before nspark = 163; after nspark = 347; ncell = 11), when compared with control (Figure 7A ). These results indicated that ryanodine could increase the size of Ca2+ sparks in hiPSC-CMs.DiscussionIn adult cardiac myocytes, Ca2+ spark is an infrequent and stochastic elementary event of Ca2+ release [2]. Ca2+ sparks are often associated with the transverse tubules (TTs) at the Z-disk of a sarcomere where RyRs and L-type Ca2+ channels colocalize [12,14,15]. Furthermore, repetitive Ca2+ sparks may originate from the same RyR cluster [16]. In the present study, repetitive Ca2+ sparks emerged at the same sites were observed in hiPSCCMs. In contrast, such phenomenon has rarely been reported in adult quiescent ventricular myocytes [16]. Similar to previous reports [17?9], the Ca2+ sparks in hiPSCCMs were not associated with Ca2+ transients or Ca2+ wave 1662274 propagation throughout the cells (Figure 3B). This phenomenonCalcium Sparks in iPSC-Derived CardiomyocytesFigure 3. Spontaneous Ca2+ sparks in hiPSC-CMs. (A) Confocal images of spontaneous sparks were recorded in X-Y scanning mode. Representative spontaneous Ca2+ sparks occurred at the same site. (B) Two representative line scan (X-T mode) images of Ca2+ sparks obtained from red line in panel A at different times (top) and the intensity-time profiles of Ca2+ sparks at sites indicated by white arrows (bottom). Abbreviations: F/ F0, fluorescence (F) normalized to baseline fluorescence (F0). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055266.gsuggests that release units in those cells are separated by critical distances [20]. In adult mammalian ventricular myocytes, the T-tubules are the main site of E-C coupling and ensure spatially and temporally homogenous Ca2+ release throughout the c.Ginal Ca2+ sparks was shown in Figure 4Ac. The spatial widths of Ca2+ sparks (Figure 4Ca,b) show that Ca2+ diffusion from the center of Ca2+ sparks to periphery was asymmetric, indicating that the distribution of RyRs in a cluster of Ca2+ release channels is anomalous or inhomogeneous in hiPSC-CMs. Ca2+ sparks also present multiple ridges in the threedimensional plots (Figure 4Ba,b) and temporal profiles (Figure 4Da,b) of Ca2+ sparks, suggesting the these Ca2+ sparks may originate from one or several different clusters of RyRs. About 90 of Ca2+ sparks possess this temporal-spatial feature. However, the spatial width in an overlay of Ca2+ spark showed a symmetrical profile (Figure 4Cc).Calcium Sparks in iPSC-Derived CardiomyocytesFigure 2. Spontaneous Ca2+ transients in hiPSC-CMs. (A) Representative frame-scan (X-Y 23115181 mode) images of spontaneous Ca2+ transients (a and b). (B) A typical line scan (X-T mode) image of spontaneous Ca2+ transients obtained from white line in panel Aa and (C) the corresponding amplitudes (F/F0) of Ca2+ transients (n = 16). (D) A representative transverse line scan (X-T mode) image obtained from green line in panel Aa (a) and the corresponding intensity profiles (b) of Ca2+ transients. Abbreviations: F/F0, fluorescence (F) normalized to baseline fluorescence (F0); s, seconds. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055266.gEffects of Ryanodine on Ca2+ SparksCa2+ sparks are local and transient calcium release events from a cluster of RyRs in the SR. Delineating the properties of RyRs in hiPSC-CMs is thus a matter of fundamental importance to Ca2+ sparks. In the present study, the spark frequency FDHM and FWHM showed significant increase (P,0.05), whereas F/F0 was not significant changed after application of 50 nM ryanodine (before nspark = 163; after nspark = 347; ncell = 11), when compared with control (Figure 7A ). These results indicated that ryanodine could increase the size of Ca2+ sparks in hiPSC-CMs.DiscussionIn adult cardiac myocytes, Ca2+ spark is an infrequent and stochastic elementary event of Ca2+ release [2]. Ca2+ sparks are often associated with the transverse tubules (TTs) at the Z-disk of a sarcomere where RyRs and L-type Ca2+ channels colocalize [12,14,15]. Furthermore, repetitive Ca2+ sparks may originate from the same RyR cluster [16]. In the present study, repetitive Ca2+ sparks emerged at the same sites were observed in hiPSCCMs. In contrast, such phenomenon has rarely been reported in adult quiescent ventricular myocytes [16]. Similar to previous reports [17?9], the Ca2+ sparks in hiPSCCMs were not associated with Ca2+ transients or Ca2+ wave 1662274 propagation throughout the cells (Figure 3B). This phenomenonCalcium Sparks in iPSC-Derived CardiomyocytesFigure 3. Spontaneous Ca2+ sparks in hiPSC-CMs. (A) Confocal images of spontaneous sparks were recorded in X-Y scanning mode. Representative spontaneous Ca2+ sparks occurred at the same site. (B) Two representative line scan (X-T mode) images of Ca2+ sparks obtained from red line in panel A at different times (top) and the intensity-time profiles of Ca2+ sparks at sites indicated by white arrows (bottom). Abbreviations: F/ F0, fluorescence (F) normalized to baseline fluorescence (F0). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055266.gsuggests that release units in those cells are separated by critical distances [20]. In adult mammalian ventricular myocytes, the T-tubules are the main site of E-C coupling and ensure spatially and temporally homogenous Ca2+ release throughout the c.