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Optical multisite monitoring of cell excitation phenomena in isolated cardiomyocytes

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  • Neurophysiology, Muscle and Sensory Organs
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Abstract

An especially designed setup which consists of an inverted fluorescence microscope, an argon ion laser and a photodiode array system permits membrane potential monitoring in isolated guinea-pig ventricular cardiomyocytes, stained with the voltage-sensitive dye di-4-ANEPPS, which responds linearly with relative fluorescence changes (ΔF/F) ≈ −8% per 100 mV. About a dozen measuring spots covering a single cell were simultaneously monitored with a spatial and temporal resolution of 15 μm and about 20 μs, respectively. In general, the rising phases of the action potentials within a single cell were highly synchronized (i.e. all upstroke velocities peaked within about 20 μs); however, in one cell (out of 25 examined) significant (P < 0.05) time lags exceeding the signal-dependent time resolution were also found. Experiments, simultaneously performed with our optical system and a widely used patch-clamp setup, revealed a slowed and delayed response of the clamp amplifier depending on the cell access resistance. Optical monitoring during whole-cell voltage-clamping demonstrated the influence of graduated series resistance compensation. When field stimulation was used, our results clearly demonstrated the spatially dependent polarization of the cell membrane during the stimulus, as well as a highly synchronized upstroke development. Slight differences in the maximum upstroke velocities within a single cell were also found and were basically in agreement with mathematical models.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Universität Graz, Harrachgasse 21, A-8010, Graz, Austria

    H. Windisch, H. Ahammer, P. Schaffer, W. Müller & D. Platzer

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  1. H. Windisch
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  2. H. Ahammer
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  3. P. Schaffer
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  4. W. Müller
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  5. D. Platzer
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Windisch, H., Ahammer, H., Schaffer, P. et al. Optical multisite monitoring of cell excitation phenomena in isolated cardiomyocytes. Pflugers Arch. 430, 508–518 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373887

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373887

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