Establishment and characterization of a mouse embryonic heart slice preparation.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to isolated cells, the anatomic and functional integrity of tissue slices remains preserved. Aim of the study was to establish the slice technique in embryonic mouse hearts in order to perform physiological and pharmacological investigations of wild-type mice and genetically engineered mouse models of heart disease.


METHODS
Ventricular slices (thickness: 300 mum) were cut from agar-embedded embryonic mouse hearts (ED 16.5-18.5) with a vibratome. Histology, immunostaining with markers for apoptosis induction, intracellular recordings with sharp electrodes and field potential recordings using microelectrode arrays were performed to assess viability.


RESULTS
Slices exhibited normal histology without prominent signs of apoptosis for at least 24 hours. Intracellular recordings revealed the typical electrophysiological fingerprint of ventricular cardiomyocytes. Field potential recordings proved that adrenergic and muscarinic signaling was preserved.


CONCLUSIONS
Functionally intact heart slices can be generated from murine embryos.
Pillekamp
Frank
F
Pediatric Cardiology, University of Cologne, Germany.
Reppel
Michael
M
Dinkelacker
Vera
V
Duan
Yaqi
Y
Jazmati
Nathalie
N
Bloch
Wilhelm
W
Brockmeier
Konrad
K
Hescheler
Juergen
J
Fleischmann
Bernd K
BK
Koehling
Ruediger
R
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D002217:Carbachol; D007545:Isoproterenol