Atypically Shaped Cardiomyocytes (ACMs): The Identification, Characterization and New Insights into a Subpopulation of Cardiomyocytes.

In the adult mammalian heart, no data have yet shown the existence of cardiomyocyte-differentiable stem cells that can be used to practically repair the injured myocardium. Atypically shaped cardiomyocytes (ACMs) are found in cultures of the cardiomyocyte-removed fraction obtained from cardiac ventricles from neonatal to aged mice. ACMs are thought to be a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes or immature cardiomyocytes, most closely resembling cardiomyocytes due to their spontaneous beating, well-organized sarcomere and the expression of cardiac-specific proteins, including some fetal cardiac gene proteins. In this review, we focus on the characteristics of ACMs compared with ventricular myocytes and discuss whether these cells can be substitutes for damaged cardiomyocytes. ACMs reside in the interstitial spaces among ventricular myocytes and survive under severely hypoxic conditions fatal to ventricular myocytes. ACMs have not been observed to divide or proliferate, similar to cardiomyocytes, but they maintain their ability to fuse with each other. Thus, it is worthwhile to understand the role of ACMs and especially how these cells perform cell fusion or function independently in vivo. It may aid in the development of new approaches to cell therapy to protect the injured heart or the clarification of the pathogenesis underlying arrhythmia in the injured heart.

An Antegrade Perfusion Method for Cardiomyocyte Isolation from Mice.

In basic research using mouse heart, isolating viable individual cardiomyocytes is a crucial technical step to overcome. Traditionally, isolating cardiomyocytes from rabbits, guinea pigs or rats has been performed via retrograde perfusion of the heart with enzymes using a Langendorff apparatus. However, a high degree of skill is required when this method is used with a small mouse heart. An antegrade perfusion method that does not use a Langendorff apparatus was recently reported for the isolation of mouse cardiomyocytes. We herein report a complete protocol for the improved antegrade perfusion of the excised heart to isolate individual heart cells from adult mice (8 - 108 weeks old). Antegrade perfusion is performed by injecting perfusate near the apex of the left ventricle of the excised heart, the aorta of which was clamped, using an infusion pump. All procedures are carried out on a pre-warmed heater mat under a microscope, which allows for the injection and perfusion processes to be monitored. The results suggest that ventricular and atrial myocytes, and fibroblasts can be well isolated from a single adult mouse simultaneously.

A simple antegrade perfusion method for isolating viable single cardiomyocytes from neonatal to aged mice.

The aim of this study was to establish a simple and reproducible antegrade perfusion method for isolating single viable mouse heart cells and to determine the standard practical protocols that are appropriate for mice of various ages. Antegrade perfusion was performed by injecting perfusate from near the apex of the left ventricle of the excised heart, the aorta of which was clamped, using an infusion pump. This could thoroughly perfuse the myocardium through the coronary circulation. All procedures were carried out on a prewarmed heater mat under a microscope, which allows for the processes of injection and perfusion to be monitored. With appropriate adjustment of the size of the injection needle, the composition and amount of enzyme solution and the perfusion flow rate, this antegrade perfusion method could be applied to the hearts of neonatal to aged mice. We examined the morphological characteristics and electrophysiological properties of the isolated ventricular and atrial myocytes and found that these cells were mostly identical to those obtained with the traditional Langendorff-based retrograde perfusion method. Interstitial nonmyocytes, such as cardiac progenitor cells, were also isolated simultaneously from the supernatant fraction of the centrifugation, similar to the retrograde perfusion method. The results suggest that single heart cells can be well isolated with high degree of quality by the present antegrade perfusion method, regardless of the age of the mouse.