Atrial muscle cells from hearts of adult guinea-pigs in culture: a new preparation for cardiac cellular electrophysiology.

By means of a modified Langendorff perfusion technique using collagenase and elastase cell suspensions of viable myocytes from atria of adult guinea-pigs can be obtained. If the cell isolation is performed aseptically the myocytes can be kept in long term cell culture. Under these conditions the cells attach to the bottom of the culture dish within 12 to 24 h after plating. Thereafter they round up forming spherical 'cardioballs'. These cardioballs are highly suitable for electrophysiological experiments using different configurations (cell-attached and cell-free) of the patch-clamp technique. They can be employed for these experiments for up to 8 days after isolation. Thereafter they tend to flatten resembling embryonic heart cells in tissue culture.