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Updated: Nov 20, 2025
In Vitro Assessment of Cardiac Function Using Skinned Cardiomyocytes
Published on: June 22, 2020
Ex vivo Methods for Measuring Cardiac Muscle Mechanical Properties
Walter E Knight1, Hadi R Ali1, Stephanie J Nakano2
1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.
Insights
This review compares ex vivo methods for measuring cardiac mechanical function. Understanding these techniques aids cardiovascular research and experimental design for cardiac disease mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Biophysics
- Physiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death.
- Numerous studies investigate cardiac disease mechanisms.
- Quantifying cardiac performance involves diverse techniques, each assessing unique mechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compare ex vivo methods for quantifying cardiac muscle performance.
- To highlight the strengths and limitations of each technique.
- To guide researchers in selecting appropriate methods for studying cardiac function.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of ex vivo techniques ranging from whole heart preparations to in vitro motility assays.
- Analysis of methods assessing cardiac function at various levels, from organ to protein interactions.
- Comparison of techniques for measuring distinct aspects of cardiac mechanical function.
Main Results:
- Each method quantifies unique features of cardiac muscle mechanics.
- A comprehensive understanding requires combining complementary techniques.
- Individual techniques are well-documented, but comparative analysis is needed.
Conclusions:
- This review provides a comparative analysis of ex vivo cardiac mechanical function assessment methods.
- It aids cardiovascular biologists in interpreting existing literature and designing future experiments.
- Understanding these methods enhances the study of cardiac disease mechanisms.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and thousands of manuscripts each year are aimed at elucidating mechanisms underlying cardiac disease. The methods for quantifying cardiac performance are quite varied, with each technique assessing unique features of cardiac muscle mechanical properties. Accordingly, in this review, we discuss current ex vivo methods for quantifying cardiac muscle performance, highlighting what can be learned from each method, and how each technique can be used in conjunction to complement others for a more comprehensive understanding of cardiac function. Importantly, cardiac function can be assessed at several different levels, from the whole organ down to individual protein-protein interactions. Here, we take a reductionist view of methods that are commonly used to measure the distinct aspects of cardiac mechanical function, beginning with whole heart preparations and finishing with the in vitro motility assay. While each of the techniques are individually well-documented in the literature, there is a significant need for a comparison of the techniques, delineating the mechanical parameters that can are best measured with each technique, as well as the strengths and weaknesses inherent to each method. Additionally, we will consider complementary techniques and how these methods can be used in combination to improve our understanding of cardiac mechanical function. By presenting each of these methods, with their strengths and limitations, in a single manuscript, this review will assist cardiovascular biologists in understanding the existing literature on cardiac mechanical function, as well as designing future experiments.
