title: Measurement of calcium and movement in heart cells.
abstract: Preparations of calcium-tolerant cardiac myocytes for studies on intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) signaling and contraction have been difficult owing to the susceptibility of these cells to the enzymatic digestion process. This often leads to the cells acquiring a bricklike contracted shape with a granular cytoplasm and membrane blebbing. A successful preparation results in single myocytes that do not show spontaneous contractions and that remain relaxed in Ca(2+)-containing buffers, indicating that the sarcolemmal membrane was not damaged during enzymatic digestion and led to membrane depolarization.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Therapeutics Group, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Leong L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Paulene A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C049925:fura-2-am; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2