Cardiomyocyte Viability
Cardiomyocyte Viability - Related Videos
07:05
Isolation and Cryopreservation of Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes
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Cited by 49 •
2015
The isolation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes is a time consuming and unpredictable procedure. This study describes methods for cryopreservation and thawing of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes that allows for more efficient use of cells. The thawed NRCMs can be used for various experiments without the need for performing isolations each time.
07:50
Isolation and Culture of Neonatal Mouse Cardiomyocytes
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Cited by 187 •
2013
Primary mouse cardiomyocyte cultures are one of the pivotal tools for the investigation of myofibrillar organization and function. The following protocol describes the isolation and culture of primary cardiomyocytes from neonatal mouse hearts. The resulting cardiomyocyte cultures may be subsequently used for a variety of biomechanical, biochemical and cell-biological assays.
08:03
Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiomyocyte DNA Synthesis and Ploidy: A Method to Assist Quantification of Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Turnover
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Cited by 25 •
2016
Quantification of cardiomyocyte turnover is challenging. The protocol described here makes an important contribution to this challenge by enabling accurate and sensitive quantification of neo-cardiomyocyte nuclei generation and nuclei ploidy.
09:41
Visualization of Cell Cycle Variations and Determination of Nucleation in Postnatal Cardiomyocytes
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Cited by 5 •
2017
To distinguish cell division from cell cycle variations in cardiomyocytes, we present protocols using two transgenic mouse lines: Myh6-H2B-mCh transgenic mice, for the unequivocal identification of cardiomyocyte nuclei, and CAG-eGFP-anillin mice, for distinguishing cell division from cell cycle variations.
12:03
Viability Assays for Cells in Culture
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Cited by 39 •
2014
Therapeutic compounds are often first examined in vitro with viability assays. Blind cell counts by a human observer can be highly sensitive to small changes in cell number but do not assess function. Computerized viability assays, as described here, can assess both structure and function in an objective manner.
FAQs
Three complementary indicators are emphasized: cell membrane integrity, metabolic activity, and survival after a defined exposure. Membrane integrity reflects structural preservation, while metabolic activity provides information about cellular performance under the tested conditions. Measuring these signals together gives a broader view than relying on one indicator alone and helps distinguish preserved cells from cells undergoing damage or death.
Cardiomyocyte viability can change when cells experience altered oxygen or nutrient availability, exposure to drugs, or mechanical stress. These conditions serve as experimental challenges that reveal how heart muscle cells respond to injury, toxicity, or environmental change. Comparing viability across controlled conditions helps researchers identify harmful exposures and characterize cellular sensitivity in biological models.
No single indicator captures every aspect of cellular status. Membrane integrity addresses structural damage, metabolic activity reflects cellular condition, and survival shows whether cells remain present after exposure. Considering these measures together supports a more reliable interpretation and helps separate healthy responses from damage or cell death, particularly when experimental conditions affect cells in different ways.
Viability is relevant because useful cardiomyocyte models must retain more than simple survival. Cells should remain structurally intact and functionally competent under the selected conditions. Assessing viability alongside the experimental challenge helps researchers judge whether a model represents a healthy cardiac response, an injured state, or a response altered by a potential treatment.
A general workflow begins by maintaining cardiomyocytes under defined biological or experimental conditions, then exposing them to a selected change in oxygen, nutrients, drugs, or mechanical stress. Researchers subsequently measure membrane integrity, metabolic activity, or survival and compare the results across conditions. This approach links the tested exposure with cellular preservation, damage, or loss.
The measurement is particularly useful for evaluating cardiotoxicity, because drug exposure can be examined for its effects on cardiomyocyte survival, structure, and cellular activity. In drug-screening strategies, viability results help identify harmful responses and distinguish them from more favorable outcomes. This information supports the assessment of candidate compounds in cardiac cell models.
Changes in oxygen availability make viability measurements relevant to ischemic injury research, while comparisons under different conditions can help investigate disease mechanisms. The same assessments also contribute to evaluating potential therapies and regenerative approaches. By tracking whether cells remain intact and competent, researchers can determine whether an intervention preserves cardiac cells under experimental stress.