title: Improved methods for automatic monitoring of contracting heart cells in culture.
abstract: The present communication describes improved methods for isolating and plating beating heart cells from neonatal rats using collagenase and collagen-coated petri dishes. The amplitude and frequency of contraction are continuously and simultaneously measured under well defined conditions and during prolonged periods of time with a highly sensitive and thermostated instrument. Additions, e.g. drugs and toxic agents, are made through an accessory pump system that involves extensive dilution of the added compound with medium; aliquots of medium can be withdrawn for estimation of metabolites. The system described is reliable and relatively inexpensive and allows a more extensive use of isolated heart cells, especially in studies of heart functions where small changes in amplitude and frequency of beating during prolonged periods of time are important.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D003012:Microbial Collagenase; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003012:Microbial Collagenase