Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol.110, No.2, 628-636, 2013
Cardiac myocytes' dynamic contractile behavior differs depending on heart segment
Cardiac myocytes originating from different parts of the heart exhibit varying morphology and ultrastructure. However, the difference in their dynamic behavior is unclear. We examined the contraction of cardiac myocytes originating from the apex, ventricle, and atrium, and found that their dynamic behavior, such as amplitude and frequency of contraction, differs depending on the heart segment of origin. Using video microscopy and high-precision image correlation, we found that: (1) apex myocytes exhibited the highest contraction rate similar to 17?beats/min); (2) ventricular myocytes exhibited the highest contraction amplitude (similar to 5.2?micron); and (3) as myocyte contraction synchronized, their frequency did not change significantly, but the amplitude of contraction increased in apex and ventricular myocytes. In addition, as myocyte cultures mature they formed contractile filaments, further emphasizing the difference in myocyte dynamics is persistent. These results suggest that the dynamic behavior (in addition to static properties) of myocytes is dependent on their segment of origin. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 628636. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keywords:cardiac tissue engineering;cell transplantation;heart physiology;sarcomere length;myocyte filament