A simple method for volumetric measurements in isolated cardiac muscle

A new method for the study of extracellular space and cell volume of cardiac muscle is described. Canine cardiac Purkinje strands and cat papillary muscles were placed within a fluid-filled aperture connecting two sides of an experimental chamber. Direct electrical current was passed through the hole, and changes in the voltage drop across it were correlated with Purkinje strand extracellular space and cell volume. The results of experiments on 21 Purkinje strands and 4 papillary muscles yielded an extracellular space of 51 +/- 2.1% (SEM) and 23.3 +/- 2.1%, respectively. When strands were superfused with hyper- (600 mosM) and hyposmotic (150 mosM) solutions, the preparations were found to attain new steady-state volumes that were 75 +/- 3.1% and 121 +/- 9% of control, respectively. This method can be used for volumetric studies in numerous cardiac muscle preparations and should be applicable to the study of volume abnormalities associated with certain disease states.