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Photoelectric recording of mechanical responses of cardiac myocytes

  • Excitable Tissues and Central Nervous Physiology
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Abstract

A method to monitor contraction of isolated myocytes by transmicroscopic photometry is illustrated. Two photodiodes are mounted inside an inverse microscope used for visual control of a cell. Illumination of one diode varies in proportion to changes in cell length. The contraction signal is amplified in a comparator circuit. Spatial resolution of the device is in the order of 1 μm which corresponds to about 5% of cell shortening in the fully activated state of contraction. The method was tested on isolated myocytes from guinea-pig ventricle. Optical records of contraction in response to action potentials or during voltage clamp compare well with the contractile behaviour of multicellular preparations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Physiologie II, University of Bonn, Wilhelmstrasse 31, D-5300, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

    R. Meyer, J. Wiemer, J. Dembski & H. G. Haas

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  1. R. Meyer
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  2. J. Wiemer
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  3. J. Dembski
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  4. H. G. Haas
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Meyer, R., Wiemer, J., Dembski, J. et al. Photoelectric recording of mechanical responses of cardiac myocytes. Pflugers Arch. 408, 390–394 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00581134

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00581134

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