For the investigation of cardiac pathologies the single cell model is a promising tool. Due to significant species-specific properties of cardiac myocytes it is essential to extend such investigations to human cardiac myocytes, since ultimately we want to understand the pathologies in the human heart.

For this, we enzymatically isolated cells from 48 human atrium samples and their subcellular morphology was visualised using confocal microscopy and anorganic fluorescent dyes.

In contrast to the isolation of cardiac myocytes from rodents crude collagenase works favourable in comparison to purified collagenase (i.e. liberase). We systematically investigated the yield of cell isolation from human atrial samples: in 45% (n=42) we yield a minimum of 25% viable cells. The same rate was achieved for a smaller percentage if patients were older than 65 years (28% - n=18) or if the tissue was adipose (29% - n=17). We were able to culture the isolated atrial myocytes in serum free medium for up to 7 days without major changes in the morphology.

The project was funded in part by HOMFOR, the DFG, SFB530 TP B6 and HBFG.