Single cells from adult mammalian heart: isolation procedure and preliminary electrophysiological studies.

Single ventricular cells have been isolated from adult guinea pig heart using a collagenase enzyme method. The procedure is straightforward, takes about 20 min, and yields 40-65% rod-shaped cells which are quiescent in millimolar Ca2+ solution. Electrophysiological studies involving external ion changes and ionic channel inhibitors suggest that the cells retain their active membrane properties following this enzymatic dissociation.