Formation of cardiac fibers in Matrigel matrix.
We report a simple in vitro model of cardiac tissue that mimics three-dimensional (3-D) environment and mechanical load conditions and, as such, may serve as a convenient method to study stem cell engraftment or address developmental questions such as cytoskeleton or intercalated disk maturation. To create in vitro cardiac fibers we used Matrigel, a commercially available basement membrane preparation. A semisolid pillow from concentrated Matrigel was overlaid with a suspension of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes in a diluted Matrigel solution. This created an environment in which the multicellular fibers continuously contracted against a mechanical load. The described approach allows continuous structural and functional monitoring of 20-300-micron-thick cardiac fibers and provides easy access to epitopes for immunostaining purposes.
Bakunts
Karina
K
Pharmacology and Physiology Department, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Gillum
Nikki
N
Karabekian
Zaruhi
Z
Sarvazyan
Narine
N
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen