Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 18, 2026
Methods for the Isolation, Culture, and Functional Characterization of Sinoatrial Node Myocytes from Adult Mice
Published on: October 23, 2016
Primary culture and identification of sinoatrial node cells from newborn rat
Zhiyuan Song1, Li Zhong, Shifei Tong
1Department of Cardiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. zysong@public.cta.cq.cn
Objective:
To establish a reliable approach to primary culture and identification of sinoatrial node (SAN) cells.
Methods:
The SAN cells were cultured from SAN tissue removed from neonatal Wistar rats and purified with differential attachment and 5'-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment. The obtained cells were morphologically observed with inverted microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Its action potential was recorded using electrophysiological methods.
Results:
Three distinctly different cells were observed in the cultured SAN cells: spindle, triangle and irregular. Of these, the spindle cells comprised the greatest proportion, with their shape, structure and electrophysiological characteristics consistent with those of the pacemaker cells of SAN. The triangle cells were similar in features to the similarly shaped myocytes located in the atrial myocardium.
Conclusions:
The culture method of differential attachment combined with BrdU treatment is a reliable approach to growing SAN cells. Of the cells cultured from SAN, the spindle cells appear to function as pacemaker cells.
More Related Videos
11:53Simultaneous Isolation and Culture of Atrial Myocytes, Ventricular Myocytes, and Non-Myocytes from an Adult Mouse Heart
Published on: June 14, 2020
09:20Microelectrode Array Recording of Sinoatrial Node Firing Rate to Identify Intrinsic Cardiac Pacemaking Defects in Mice
Published on: July 5, 2021