Lying between single cell and whole heart experimental studies, cardiac slices provide many of the benefits of a reductionist approach of isolated cardiac myocytes while being easier to generate and more robust with added physiological relevance.
Cardiac slices, unlike single isolated myocytes, can be used to study cardiac function within a multicellular context and an intact myofilament lattice. Slices have the added benefit of maintaining a syncytium of myocytes found in vivo thus maintaining in vivo architecture and intercellular signaling, suggesting that experimental results are more likely to have physiological relevance. And unlike whole heart studies, cardiac slices allow measurements too difficult or impossible to perform in whole hearts.
The IonOptix Cardiac Slice System has been designed to facilitate the application from slice preparation to data acquisition and analysis. Cardiac slices are easily affixed to sturdy, stable triangular clips that mount between a robust force transducer and programmable length controller. Chamber fluid flow allows for temperature control and continuous oxygenation of tissue, while fixed platinum electrodes enable electrical field stimulation. The platinum allows for electrical conductance and are biologically inert while minimizing electrolysis.