Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A simple technique for on-line measurement of contractions of single smooth muscle fibers under current or voltage clamp

  • Instruments And Techniques
  • Molecular and Cellular Physiology
  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes a simple technique for routine on-line measurement of length and unloaded, isotonic contractions of single smooth muscle fibers during electrophysiological experiments. The fiber is held by the recording electrode itself, stretched straight in a fastflowing stream of solution. The video image of the fiber is measured on-line by a simple computer program. Unlike other optical methods of tracking fiber length, the technique does not require a rigid one-dimensional contraction of the fiber. The technique is reliable and easy to use, and readily compatible with current clamp, voltage clamp, and rapid reversible application of neurotransmitters and drugs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Boyett MR, Moore M, Jewell BR, Montgomery RAP, Kirby MS, Orchard CH (1988) An improved apparatus for the optical recording of contraction of single heart cells. Pflügers Arch 413:197–205

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Brady AJ, Tan ST, Ricchiuti NV (1979) Contractile force measured in unskinned isolated adult rat heart fibres. Nature 282:728–729

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Březina V, Evans CG, Weiss KR (1994) Characterization of the membrane ion currents of a model molluscan muscle, the accessory radula closer muscle ofAplysia californica. I. Hyperpolarization-activated currents. J Neurophysiol 71:2093–2112

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Březina V, Evans CG, Weiss KR (1994) Enhancement of Ca current in the accessory radula closer muscle ofAplysia californica by neuromodulators that potentiate its contractions. J Neurosci 14:4393–4411

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Brutsaert DL, Claes VA, De Clerck NM (1978) Relaxation of mammalian single cardiac cells after pretreatment with the detergent Brij-58. J Physiol (Lond) 283:481–491

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bucher OM (1957) A photoelectric recording set for pulsation curves of heart muscle cultures in vitro. Exp Cell Res 13:109–115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Capogrossi MC, Kort AA, Spurgeon HA, Lakatta EG (1986) Single adult rabbit and rat cardiac myocytes retain the Ca2+and species-dependent systolic and diastolic contractile properties of intact muscle. J Gen Physiol 88:589–613

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Cleemann L, Morad M (1991) Role of Ca2+ channel in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in the rat: evidence from Ca2+ transients and contraction. J Physiol (Lond) 432:283–312

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cohen JL, Weiss KR, Kupfermann I (1978) Motor control of buccal muscles in Aplysia. J Neurophysiol 41:157–180

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. De Clerck NM, Claes VA, Brutsaert DL (1977) Force velocity relations of single cardiac muscle cells. J Gen Physiol 69:221–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. De Clerck NM, Claes VA, Van Ocken ER, Brutsaert DL (1981) Sarcomere distribution patterns in single cardiac cells. Biophys J 35:237–242

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Eisner DA, Nichols CG, O'Neill SC, Smith GL, Valdeolmillos M (1989) The effects of metabolic inhibition on intracellular calcium and pH in isolated rat ventricular cells. J Physiol (Lond) 411:393–418

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fabiato A (1981) Myoplasmic free calcium concentration reached during the twitch of an intact isolated cardiac cell and during calcium-induced release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of a skinned cardiac cell from the adult rat or rabbit ventricle. J Gen Physiol 78:457–497

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Frequency Devices (1992) Series 900 tuneable lowpass filter instruments. Frequency Devices, Haverhill, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ishii N (1986) Shortening velocity of single muscle cells isolated from a molluscan smooth muscle. Experientia 42:810–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ishii N, Takahashi K (1982) Length-tension relation of single smooth muscle cells isolated from the pedal retractor muscle ofMytilus edulis. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 3:25–38

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lassignal NL, Singer JJ, Walsh JV (1986) Multiple neuropeptides exert a direct effect on the same isolated single smooth muscle cell. Am J Physiol 250:C792-C798

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee CO, Levi AJ (1991) The role of intracellular sodium in the control of cardiac contraction. Ann NY Acad Sci 639:408–427

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. London B, Krueger JW (1986) Contraction in voltageclamped, internally perfused single heart cells. J Gen Physiol 88:475–505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Meyer R, Wiemer J, Dembski J, Haas HG (1987) Photoelectric recording of mechanical responses of cardiac myocytes. Pflügers Arch 408:390–394

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Niggli E (1988) A laser diffraction system with improved sensitivity for long-time measurements of sarcomere dynamics in isolated cardiac myocytes. Pflügers Arch 411:462–468

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. O'Neill SC, Donoso P, Eisner DA (1990) The role of [Ca2+]i and [Ca2+] sensitization in the caffeine contracture of rat myocytes: measurement of [Ca2+]i and [caffeine]i. J Physiol (Lond) 425:55–70

    Google Scholar 

  23. Philips CM, Duthinh V, Houser SR (1986) A simple technique to measure the rate and magnitude of shortening of single isolated cardiac myocytes. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 33:929–934

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Roos KP, Brady AJ (1982) Individual sarcomere length determination from isolated cardiac cells using high-resolution optical microscopy and digital image processing. Biophys J 40:233–244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Shepherd N, Vornanen M, Isenberg G (1990) Force measurements from voltage-clamped guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Am J Physiol 258:H452-H459

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sims SM (1992) Cholinergic activation of a non-selective cation current in canine gastric smooth muscle is associated with contraction. J Physiol (Lond) 449:377–398

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sinclair AJ, Miller HA, Harrison DC (1970) An electrooptical monitoring technique for heart cells in tissue culture. J Appl Physiol 29:747–749

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Spurgeon HA, Stern MD, Baartz G, Raffaeli S, Hansford RG, Talo A, Lakatta EG, Capogrossi MC (1990) Simultaneous measurement of Ca2+, contraction, and potential in cardiac myocytes. Am J Physiol 258:H574-H586

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Steadman BW, Moore KB, Spitzer KW, Bridge JHB (1988) A video system for measuring motion in contracting heart cells. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 35:264–272

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Tarr M, Trank JW, Leiffer P, Shepherd N (1979) Sarcomere length-resting tension relation in single frog atrial cardiac cells. Circ Res 45:554–559

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tung L (1986) An ultrasensitive transducer for measurement of isometric contractile force from single heart cells. Pflügers Arch 407:109–115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Warshaw D, Fay FS (1983) Cross-bridge elasticity in single smooth muscle cells. J Gen Physiol 82:157–199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1218, 10029, New York, NY, USA

    V. Březina

Authors
  1. V. Březina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Březina, V. A simple technique for on-line measurement of contractions of single smooth muscle fibers under current or voltage clamp. Pflugers Arch. 429, 126–133 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584038

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584038

Key words

Search

Navigation