Dissolve the Fura-2 AM aliquots in Tyrode's Solution to get a final concentration of 1 micromolar Fura-2 AM to add to the cells. Aspirate the medium and replace it with Tyrode's Solution containing Fura-2 AM.Incubate for 15 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius in an incubator or the optics based measurement system. Remove the Tyrode's Solution containing Fura-2 AM and wash the wells two times with fresh Tyrode's Solution.
Finally, incubate the cells in Tyrode's Solution for another five minutes at 37 degrees Celsius to allow deesterification of Fura-2 AM.Place the plate inside the optics based measurement system to proceed with the contractility measurements. Select a well, choose an area within the well to observe synchronized contraction and relaxation, and then click Start, and add measurement. In addition to the contractility traces, real-time ratiometric calcium transient appears on the screen.
