Three-Dimensional In Vitro Reaggregates of Embryonic Cardiomyocytes: A Potential Model System for Monitoring Effects of Bioactive Agents

Abstract

To understand the physiological effects of substances used in drugs and therapies on heartmuscle tissue, model systems that mirror the in vivo situation of living tissues are required. Therefore, the creation of 3-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates provides an improved and refined in vitromodel as a link between cell-free or single cells and organs orwhole organisms in vivo. Here we have characterized a stable contracting in vitro tissuemodel, which consists of embryonic chicken cardiomyocytes. For establishing a cell-based test system, the 3D in vitro cardiomyocyte spheres were characterized according to messenger RNA expression of special cardiac cell types and protein expression pattern of functional markers such as connexin-43. Finally, the in vitro spheroid modelwas used for investigating the effect of isoproterenol, a •-adrenergic receptor agonist, on the contractibility mediated by the ligand receptor interaction.