title: Generating an in vitro 3D cell culture model from zebrafish larvae for heart research.
abstract: We describe here a novel, fast and inexpensive method for producing a 3D 'heart' structure that forms spontaneously, in vitro, from larval zebrafish (ZF). We have named these 3D 'heart' structures 'zebrafish heart aggregate(s)' (ZFHAs) and have characterised their basic morphology and structural composition using histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and mass spectrometry. After 2 days in culture, the ZFHA spontaneously form and become a stable contractile syncytium consisting of cardiac tissue derived by in vitro maturation, which beats rhythmically and consistently for more than 8 days. We propose this model as a platform technology, which can be developed further to study in vitro cardiac maturation, regeneration, tissue engineering and safety pharmacological/toxicology testing.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
authors.forename: Bianka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grunow
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research Group, Faculty of Human and Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mohamet
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK holly.shiels@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shiels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D061251:Primary Cell Culture / Q000379:methods*; D020543:Proteome; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome
keywords: Cardiac tissue; Drug screening; Heart rate; Ion channels; Myocyte; Tissue engineering