We acknowledge the support provided by the workshops and the animal facility of the Institute of Neurophysiology. This work was supported by Walter und Marga Boll- Stiftung, K&#246;ln Fortune and Deutsche Stiftung f&#252;r Herzforschung.

Animal handling has to be conform to guidelines of the local animal welfare committee and to the Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament.
1. Prepare Solutions
<ol>
	<li>Prepare Tyrode&#39;s solution without Ca2+ (composition in mM): NaCl 136, KCl 5.4, NaH2PO4 0.33, MgCl2 1, glucose 10, HEPES 5, 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) 30. Adjust pH to 7.4 with NaOH at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prepare Tyrode&#39;s solution with Ca2+ (compositio...

<ol>
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M., Olinga, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Precision-cut+tissue+slices+as+a+tool+to+predict+metabolism+of+novel+drugs.">Precision-cut tissue slices as a tool to predict metabolism of novel drugs.</a> Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 3, 879-898 (2007).</li><li>Kim, Y. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiopulmonary+toxicity+of+peat+wildfire+particulate+matter+and+the+predictive+utility+of+precision+cut+lung+slices.">Cardiopulmonary toxicity of peat wildfire particulate matter and the predictive utility of precision cut lung slices.</a> Part Fibre Toxicol. 11, 29 (2014).</li><li>Nembo, E. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+chronotropic+effects+of+Erythrina+senegalensis+DC+(Fabaceae)+aqueous+extract+on+mouse+heart+slice+and+pluripotent+stem+cell-derived+cardiomyocytes.">In vitro chronotropic effects of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae) aqueous extract on mouse heart slice and pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.</a> J Ethnopharmacol. 165, 163-172 (2015).</li><li>Wang, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiac+tissue+slices:+preparation,+handling,+and+successful+optical+mapping.">Cardiac tissue slices: preparation, handling, and successful optical mapping.</a> Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 308, H1112-H1125 (2015).</li><li>Bussek, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tissue+slices+from+adult+mammalian+hearts+as+a+model+for+pharmacological+drug+testing.">Tissue slices from adult mammalian hearts as a model for pharmacological drug testing.</a> Cell Physiol Biochem. 24, 527-536 (2009).</li><li>Burnashev, N. A., Edwards, F. A., Verkhratsky, A. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patch-clamp+recordings+on+rat+cardiac+muscle+slices.">Patch-clamp recordings on rat cardiac muscle slices.</a> Pflugers Arch. 417, 123-125 (1990).</li><li>Pillekamp, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishment+and+characterization+of+a+mouse+embryonic+heart+slice+preparation.">Establishment and characterization of a mouse embryonic heart slice preparation.</a> Cell Physiol Biochem. 16, 127-132 (2005).</li><li>Pillekamp, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neonatal+murine+heart+slices.+A+robust+model+to+study+ventricular+isometric+contractions.">Neonatal murine heart slices. A robust model to study ventricular isometric contractions.</a> Cell Physiol Biochem. 20, 837-846 (2007).</li><li>Halbach, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ventricular+slices+of+adult+mouse+hearts--a+new+multicellular+in+vitro+model+for+electrophysiological+studies.">Ventricular slices of adult mouse hearts--a new multicellular in vitro model for electrophysiological studies.</a> Cell Physiol Biochem. 18, 1-8 (2006).</li><li>Halbach, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrophysiological+maturation+and+integration+of+murine+fetal+cardiomyocytes+after+transplantation.">Electrophysiological maturation and integration of murine fetal cardiomyocytes after transplantation.</a> Circ. 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Cardiol. 171, e122-e124 (2014).</li><li>Halbach, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrophysiological+integration+and+action+potential+properties+of+transplanted+cardiomyocytes+derived+from+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Electrophysiological integration and action potential properties of transplanted cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Cardiovasc. Res. 100, 432-440 (2013).</li><li>Verrecchia, F., Herve, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reversible+blockade+of+gap+junctional+communication+by+2,3-butanedione+monoxime+in+rat+cardiac+myocytes.">Reversible blockade of gap junctional communication by 2,3-butanedione monoxime in rat cardiac myocytes.</a> Am J Physiol. 272, C875-C885 (1997).</li><li>Watanabe, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibitory+effect+of+2,3-butanedione+monoxime+(BDM)+on+Na(+)/Ca(2+)+exchange+current+in+guinea-pig+cardiac+ventricular+myocytes.">Inhibitory effect of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) on Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current in guinea-pig cardiac ventricular myocytes.</a> Br J Pharmacol. 132, 1317-1325 (2001).</li><li>Fleischmann, B. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+subunit+composition+of+the+G+protein-activated+inward-rectifier+potassium+channel+during+cardiac+development.">Differential subunit composition of the G protein-activated inward-rectifier potassium channel during cardiac development.</a> J Clin Invest. 114, 994-1001 (2004).</li><li>Peinkofer, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+Early+Embryonic+to+Adult+Stage:+Comparative+Study+of+Action+Potentials+of+Native+and+Pluripotent+Stem+Cell-Derived+Cardiomyocytes.">From Early Embryonic to Adult Stage: Comparative Study of Action Potentials of Native and Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes.</a> Stem Cells Dev. 25, 1397-1406 (2016).</li></ol>

Ventricular slices enable electrophysiological, pharmacological and mechanical studies with a preserved in vivo like tissue structure and direct access of the measurement technology to all regions of the heart. Physiological action potential properties have been demonstrated in embryonic, neonatal and adult slices 9,10,11. Vitality of the slices, except for the surface layers directly damaged by the slicing procedure, h...

Thin tissue slices have been used frequently in basic science since Yamamot and Mcllwain showed in 1966 that electrical activity of brain slices is maintained in vitro1. Since then, electrophysiological and pharmacological studies have been conducted on slices from brain 2, liver 3, lung 4 and myocardial tissue 5,6,7. First patch-clamp recordings in ventricular slices from neonatal rat hearts were described in 1990 8, but this technique fell into oblivion for some time. More than one decade later, our group established a new method to prepare murine embryonic 9, neonatal 10 and adult 11 heart slices. These viable tissue slices can be used for acute experiments (adult slices can be cultivated for several hours) or short-term culture experiments (embryonic and neonatal slices can be cultivated for a few days). Slices show in vivo like electrophysiological characteristics and a homogenous excitation spread as assessed by sharp electrode action potential and micro electrode array recordings 11. Due to their &#34;two-dimensional&#34; morphology, they allow direct access of recording electrodes to all regions of the ventricle, which makes them an interesting tool for electrophysiological investigations and raises new experimental options in comparison to Langendorff-perfused whole hearts. Drug response of the slices to ion channel blockers like verapamil (L-type Ca2+-channel blocker), lidocain (Na+-channel blocker), 4-aminopyridine (unselective voltage dependent K+-channel blocker) and linopirdine (KCNQ K+-channel blocker) 9,11 corresponded to known effects on dissociated cardiomyocytes. Isometric force measurements revealed a positive force frequency relationship and strongly suggested intact contractile function 10. These findings demonstrated that murine ventricular slices are suitable as an in vitro tissue model for physiological and pharmacological studies. Furthermore, ventricular slices of recipient hearts in combination with sharp electrode recordings have proven to be a very helpful tool to characterize electrical and mechanical integration as well as maturation of transplanted fetal 12,13,14 and stem cell-derived 15 cardiomyocytes.
In summary, ventricular slices are a valuable and well-establish multicellular tissue model and should be considered complementary to dissociated cardiomyocytes and Langendorff-perfused hearts in cardiovascular research, with the major advantage of providing an in vivo like tissue structure (in contrast to dissociated cells) as well as direct access of measurement technologies like sharp electrode recordings to all regions of the heart (in contrast to whole heart preparations).

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="895">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Leica VT 1000s</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Leica Microsystems, Wetzlar, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Microtome with vibrating blade.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:248px;">Stainless Steel Blades</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Campden Instruments, Loughborough, England</td>
			<td>7550-1-SS</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pasteur pipettes&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td>Z627992&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Fine brush, e.g. size 6 (4/32&#34;)</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">VWR, International, Radnor, USA</td>
			<td>149-2125</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Preparation table</td>
			<td style="width:340px;"></td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">self made</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Molt for embedding ventricles in agarose</td>
			<td style="width:340px;"></td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">self made</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:248px;">1 ml Syringe</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Becton, Dickinson;&#160; Franklin Lakes, USA</td>
			<td>300013</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">27Gx3/4`` Needles</td>
			<td rowspan="2" style="width:340px;">Braun, Melsungen, Germany</td>
			<td>4657705</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">20G 11/2`` Needles</td>
			<td>4657519</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Small scissor</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">WPI, Sarasota, USA</td>
			<td>501263</td>
			<td rowspan="2" style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Tweezers #5, 0.1 x 0.06 mm tip</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">WPI, Sarasota, USA</td>
			<td>500342</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Oxygen gas (medical grade O2)</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Linde, Munich, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Carbogen gas (95 % O2, 5 % CO2)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Linde, Munich, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">NaCL</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">7647-14-5</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">KCL</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">746436</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:248px;">CaCl2</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">746495</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:248px;">KH2PO4</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">NIST200B&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">51558</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:248px;">NaHCO3</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">S5761&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">D(+)-Glucose</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">G8270&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:248px;">MgSO4</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">M7506&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">NaOH</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louise, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">S8045&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Cyanoacrylate glue&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Henkel, D&#252;sseldorf, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Low-melt Agarose&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">6351.2</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Heparin-sodium-25000 I.E./5mL</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Ratiopharm, Ulm, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium&#160; (DMEM), high glucose, GlutaMAX</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">ThermoScientific, Waltham, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">10566016</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">SEC-10LX Amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">npi electronic GmbH, Tamm, Germany</td>
			<td>SEC-10LX</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">EPC 9</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">HEKA Elektronik GmbH, Lambrecht, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Zeiss Axiovert 200</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">&#160;Low magnification Micromanipulator</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Narashige, Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Nm-3</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">High magnification, three-axis micromanipulator</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Narashige, Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">MHW-3</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Peristaltic perfusion pump</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Multi Channel Systems, Reutlingen, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">PPS2</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">2-channel temperature controller</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Multi Channel Systems, Reutlingen, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">TCO02</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:248px;">Square pulse stimulator</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">Natus Europe GmbH, Planegg, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Grass SD9</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Glass capillaries</td>
			<td style="width:340px;">WPI, Sarasota, USA</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1B150F-1</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

murine short axis ventricular heart slices for electrophysiological studies

Murine cardiomyocytes have been extensively used for in vitro studies of cardiac physiology and new therapeutic strategies. However, multicellular preparations of dissociated cardiomyocytes are not representative of the complex in vivo structure of cardiomyocytes, non-myocytes and extracellular matrix, which influences both mechanical and electrophysiological properties of the heart. Here we describe a technique to prepare viable ventricular slices of adult mouse hearts with a preserved in vivo like tissue structure, and demonstrate their suitability for electrophysiological recordings. After excision of the heart, ventricles are separated from the atria, perfused with Ca2+-free solution containing 2,3-butanedione monoxime and embedded in a 4% low-melt agarose block. The block is placed on a microtome with a vibrating blade, and tissue slices with a thickness of 150-400 &#181;m are prepared keeping the vibration frequency of the blade at 60-70 Hz and moving the blade forward as slowly as possible. Thickness of the slices depends on the further application. Slices are stored in ice cold Tyrode&#39;s solution with 0.9 mM Ca2+ and 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) for 30 min. Afterwards, slices are transferred to 37 &#176;C DMEM for 30 min to wash out the BDM. Slices can be used for electrophysiological studies with sharp electrodes or micro electrode arrays, for force measurements to analyze contractile function or to investigate the interaction of transplanted stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and host tissue. For sharp electrode recordings, a slice is placed into a 3 cm cell culture dish on the heating plate of an inverted microscope. The slice is stimulated with a unipolar electrode, and intracellular action potentials of cardiomyocytes within the slice are recorded with a sharp glass electrode.

Myocardial infarction leads to a virtually irreversible loss of cardiomyocytes. Cell replacement therapy using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for exogenous cardiac regeneration is a promising therapeutic approach. Electrical integration and maturation of the transplanted cells are crucial for safety and efficiency of cell replacement therapy.
To assess integration and maturation, we transplanted cardiomyocytes derived from ind...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Murine Short Axis Ventricular Heart Slices for Electrophysiological Studies at JoVE.com

Murine Short Axis Ventricular Heart Slices for Electrophysiological Studies

Here, we describe the preparation of viable ventricular slices from adult mice and their use for sharp electrode action potential recordings. These multicellular preparations provide a preserved in vivo like tissue structure, which makes them a valuable model for electrophysiological and pharmacological studies in vitro.

Murine cardiomyocytes have been extensively used for in vitro studies of cardiac physiology and new therapeutic strategies. However, multicellular ...

The overall goal of this technique is to obtain viable ventricular heart slices, which are suitable for electrophysiological recordings. This method can help answer key questions in the field of cardiac electrophysiology on the tissue level, such as on electrical integration of transplanted cardiomyocytes or effects of cardioactive drugs. The main advantage of this technique is that viable ventricular tissue slices have a preserved, in vivo-like tissue structure, and it enables direct measurements in all regions of the heart.Though this method can provide insight into murine heart electrophysiology, it can also be applied to other animals, like rabbit or guinea pig. To begin this procedure, first wipe the skin of the animal with 70%ethanol. After opening the thorax, carefully dissect the heart's pericardium, using small scissors and forceps.Insert a cannula into the left ventricle and perfuse the heart in situ with ice cold Tyrode solution without calcium, until the remaining blood is removed. Then, gently resect the heart and transfer it to the ice cold Tyrode solution without calcium. Separate the atria from the ventricles with a scalpel or scissors.Next, place the ventricles with the apex, facing upwards, in the agarose mold. Subsequently, place the pin in the middle of the mold and in the left ventricular chamber. Fill the mold with 4%low-melt agarose at 37 degrees Celsius until the heart is completely covered.Then, place the mold on ice for faster agarose hardening to prevent the tissue from floating. After one minute, remove the agarose block, containing the ventricles, from the mold with a scalpel. After that, turn the block upside down and fill the ventricular chambers and the gap on the backside of the agarose block with 4%low-melt agarose using a syringe.Then, trim the agarose block with a scalpel to achieve a flat bottom and upright position of the cardiac apex. In this procedure, fix the block on the specimen holder of the microtome with a drop of cyanoacrylate glue, with the cardiac apex facing upward. Next, place the specimen holder into the inner specimen chamber of the microtome, which is filled with ice cold Tyrode without calcium.Ensure that the agarose block is completely covered with Tyrode solution. Prepare the slices at a thickness of 150 to 400 micrometers, depending on further application. Keep the vibration frequency of the blade, at 60 to 70 Hertz, and move the blade forward, as slowly as possible.Afterward, use a fine brush to carefully remove the remaining agarose from the slices. Then, gently transfer the slices with a Pasteur pipette into the Tyrode solution, with 0.9 millimolar calcium, aerated with 100%oxygen. Store them for at least 30 minutes on ice to recover from the slicing procedure.Placing the slices on a net helps keep them flat. Afterwards, use a filter paper and a second net to transfer the slices in DMEM at 37 degrees Celsius, bubbled with carbogen, to wash out BDM before further use. For preheating, switch on all the electric devices 30 minutes before the recordings.Place a three centimeter cell culture dish with the heating plate on the inverted microscope. Then, place the custom-made ring electrode in the dish, and connect the grounding wires of the preamplifier and the stimulation electrode. After that, connect the flexible tubes of the perfusion system to the dish.Fill the reservoir of the perfusion system with DMEM and aerate it with carbogen. Then, switch on the perfusion pump and set the perfusion rate to two to three milliliters per minute. Adjust the temperature of DMEM in the dish to 37 degrees Celsius, by regulating the flow heater and the heating plate.Now, place a ventricular slice into the DMEM-filled dish. With the inverted microscope, check the structural integrity and viability of the tissue. Then, fill a recording glass electrode with three molar potassium chloride, and a stimulation electrode with DMEM.Next, place the recording electrode in the stimulation electrode on the electrode holders. Subsequently, place the stimulation electrode carefully on the slice. Switch on the electric stimulator and start with a stimulation frequency of one to two Hertz.Then, move the recording electrode with a micromanipulator to the intended recording position. Slowly lower the recording electrode until the tip touches the tissue. Once the recording detects the contact, apply a short rectangular electric pulse through the recording electrode to penetrate the cell membrane.Next, carefully reposition the recording electrode until a stable signal is ensured. Following that, begin the recording of action potentials. To assess integration and maturation, cardiomyocytes, derived from iPSCM expressing eGFP, were transplanted into the healthy hearts of adult mice.Shown here is a ventricular heart slice, containing the transplanted iPSCM, which was focally stimulated by a unipolar electrode, placed in the host tissue. Intracellular action potentials were recorded with sharp glass microelectrodes filled with three molar potassium chloride and eGFP-positive transplanted iPSCM, and neighboring host tissue within the slices. Here are the action potential recordings, in the healthy host tissue and the transplanted iPSCM.The slice was focally stimulated with a stimulation electrode placed in the host tissue, at around two Hertz and five Hertz. Once mastered, this technique can be done in one to two hours, if it is performed properly. While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember to keep the forward speed of the microtome blade as slow as possible.Following this procedure, other methods like first measurements can be performed in order to answer additional questions. After its development, this technique paved the way for researchers in the field of cell therapy to explore electric and integration, and maturation of transplanted cardiomyocytes in recipient hearts. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to prepare viable ventricular short axis slices, using a microtome with a vibrating blade.These slices are particularly suitable for electrophysiological recordings sharp glass electrodes.

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JoVE Journal

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7.2K Views.  University of Cologne. The overall goal of this technique is to obtain viable ventricular heart slices, which are suitable for electrophysiological recordings. This method can help answer key questions in the field of cardiac electrophysiology on the tissue level, such as on electrical integration of transplanted cardiomyocytes or effects of cardioactive drugs. The main advantage of this technique is that viable ventricular tissue slices have a preserved, in vivo-like tissue structure, and it enables direct measure...