[Measurement of systolic/diastolic function in isolated ventricular myocytes by video-based motion edge-detection system].

AIM

Single cardiomyocytes were isolated from adult rat hearts and myocyte contraction was recorded by a video-based motion edge-detection system.

METHODS

Single ventricular myocytes were enzymatically isolated, loaded with fura-2/AM (0.5 micromol/L) for 30 min in dark at room temperature and field-stimulated (0.5 Hz, 5 ms), and both myocyte contraction and intracellular fluorescence intensity were simultaneously assessed by a video-based motion edge-detection system.

RESULTS

Using the video-based motion edge-detection system, one may real-time beat-to-beat observe and record the amplitude, duration and velocity of both myocyte shortening/ relengthening and intracellular calcium transient, and then directly describe the change of isolated ventricular myocyte mechanics.

CONCLUSION

Direct measurement of isolated ventricular myocyte mechanics using the video-based motion edge-detection system is an increasingly important technique in cardiac physiology that provides fundamental information on myogenic and excitation-contraction coupling of the heart in drug intervention and gene manipulation.