title: Characterisation of the function of adult guinea-pig ventricular myocytes following co-culture with neonatal rat myocytes.
abstract: Adult guinea-pig myocytes were co-cultured with a layer of spontaneously contracting neonatal rat myocytes based on a method described by Weisensee D. (In Vitro Cell Dev Biol 31: 190-195, 1995). Contractile studies were performed on freshly isolated, 24 and 48 h co-cultured adult guinea-pig myocytes to investigate whether alterations in contractile function had occurred. No difference was found between freshly isolated and 24 h co-cultured adult guinea-pig myocytes in terms of sensitivity to calcium, isoprenaline, frequency response and beat duration. After 48 h, the frequency response was depressed (P < 0.02) and the beat was prolonged (P < 0.05) when compared to that of freshly isolated myocytes. In the presence of the SR Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, the beat was significantly prolonged (P = 0.003) in 24 h co-cultured myocytes but not in freshly isolated myocytes. These findings show that adult guinea-pig myocytes can be maintained in co-culture with neonatal rat myocytes with little change in contractile function for 24 h but after this time contractile function begins to deteriorate.
authors: Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, United Kingdom. n.singhkent@ic.ac.uk
authors: N S
authors: NS
authors: Kent
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Davia
authors: S E
authors: SE
authors: Harding
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007545:Isoproterenol; D002118:Calcium