Behaviour of human atrial myocytes in culture is donor age dependent

The characteristics of cultured myocardial cells isolated from small mammals are well documented, but there is a dearth of data on cultured human cardiocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the main features of myocytes isolated from human atria and maintained in culture in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), according to the age of the donor. The following characteristics were analysed: (1) yield and viability; (2) adhesive properties; and (3) changes in cell morphology. Myocytes preferentially adhered to laminin-coated dishes and could be maintained in culture for at least 2 weeks, whatever the age of the donor (which was from 6 days to 85 yr). Maintenance in culture induced morphologic changes characterized by myocyte spreading and changes in myofibrillar organization. Interestingly, the time of onset of these changes depended on the age of the donor: they occurred earlier in young atrial myocytes (< 1 yr) than in older cells (> 13 yr).