An optimized Langendorff-free method for isolation and characterization of primary adult cardiomyocytes

Abstract

Isolation of adult mouse cardiomyocytes is an essential technique for advancing our understanding of cardiac physiology and pathology, and for developing therapeutic strategies to improve cardiac health. Traditionally, cardiomyocytes are isolated from adult mouse hearts using the Langendorff perfusion method in which the heart is excised, cannulated, and retrogradely perfused through the aorta. While this method is highly effective for isolating cardiomyocytes, it requires specialized equipment and technical expertise. To address the challenges of the Langendorff perfusion method, researchers have developed a Langendorff-free technique for isolating cardiomyocytes. This Langendorff-free technique involves anterograde perfusion through the coronary vasculature by clamping the aorta and intraventricular injection. This method simplifies the experimental setup by decreasing the need for specialized equipment and eliminating the need for cannulation of the heart. Here, we introduce an updated Langendorff-free method for isolating adult mice cardiomyocytes that builds on the Langendorff-free protocols developed previously. In this method, the aorta is clamped in situ, and the heart is perfused using a peristaltic pump, water bath, and an injection needle. This simplicity makes cardiomyocyte isolation more accessible for researchers who are new to cardiomyocyte isolation or are working with limited resources. In this report, we provide a step-by-step description of our optimized protocol. In addition, we present example studies of analyzing mitochondrial structural and functional characteristics in untreated isolated cardiomyocytes and cardiomyocytes treated with the acute inflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Keywords: Cardiomyocytes; Heart function; Inflammation; Mitochondria; ROS; Sepsis.

Fig. 1

Cardiomyocytes post-isolation. A) Brightfield image of isolated cardiomyocytes after plating. B) Confocal imaging of isolated cardiomyocytes stained with the cell membrane marker wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) (colored purple) and the nuclei marker DAPI (colored blue). C) Confocal imaging of isolated cardiomyocytes stained with the cell membrane and T-tubule marker Di-8-ANEPPS

Fig. 2

Analysis of mitochondria morphology, lipid droplet accumulation and autophagy in isolated cardiomyocytes using TEM. A) TEM images of cardiomyocytes isolated from mice that were untreated or treated with LPS (5 mg/kg). Red arrows show autophagic events, the orange arrow shows a lipid droplet, and green arrows show mitochondria with disorganized cristae. Images are representative for n = 3 mice/group. B) Mitochondrial area per 50um². C) Percentage of cristae occupancy relative to total mitochondria area. D) Number of mitochondria per 50um².E) Percentage of mitochondria with disorganized cristae relative to the number of mitochondria per 50um². F) Lipid droplet area per 50um²G) Number of autophagic events per 50um². In B-C,values were expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed by a Mann-Whitney U Test. In D-G,values were expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed by a Student’s t-test. Significance was determined by a p-value < 0.05. A value of < 0.05 is indicated by a single asterisk (*), while values of < 0.005, < 0.0005, and < 0.00005 aredenoted by two, three, and four asterisks (**, ***, ****), respectively

Fig. 3

Assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential in isolated cardiomyocytes. (A) Confocal imaging of JC-1 in in untreated and LPS treated cardiomyocytes (10ng/ml). The scale bar in the upper left panel equals 100 μm and is valid for all panels. Images are representative of 50–70 cardiomyocytes analyzed from n = 3 mice/group. (B) Quantification of JC-1 fluorescence in untreated and LPS treated cardiomyocytes. Values were expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed by a Mann-Whitney U Test. Significance was determined by a p-value < 0.05. **** indicates p < 0.00005

Fig. 4

Analysis of ROS production in isolated cardiomyocytes. (A) Confocal imaging of MitoSOX Red and MitoTracker Green in untreated and LPS treated (10 ng/ml) cardiomyocytes. The scale bar in the upper left panel equals 100 μm and is valid for all panels. Images are representative of 50–70 cardiomyocytes analyzed from n = 3 mice/group. (B) Quantification of MitoSOX Red fluorescence in untreated and LPS treated cardiomyocytes. Images are representative of 50–70 cardiomyocytes analyzed from n = 3 mice/group. Values were expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed by a Mann-Whitney U Test. Significance was determined by a p-value < 0.05. **** indicates p < 0.00005

Fig. 5

Setup for cardiomyocyte isolation. (A) Surgical tools needed for heart excision, including a surgical table, a 5 ml syringe containing ice-cold EDTA buffer, tweezers, sharp-tipped scissors, Vannas scissors, and curved-ended Reynolds hemostatic forceps. (B) EDTA and digestion buffers in a 37 °C water bath for preparation. (C) Injection needles marked with nail polish to ensure penetration depth of only 3 mm into the heart. (D) A custom-made holder securely positions the injection needle and tubing. (E) An overview of the complete perfusion system

Fig. 6

Animal surgical procedure. (A) Chest cavity opened, exposing the heart; (B) Injection of EDTA buffer into the right ventricle; (C) Clamping the aorta

Fig. 7

Isolation of cardiomyocytes from the excised heart. A) Excised heart connected to the perfusion system via intraventricular injection. B) Heart tissue disassociation. C) Pellet of healthy cardiomyocytes

Fig. 8

Analysis of mitochondria area and cristae surface area from TEM images. (A) Calculating mitochondria area. (B) Calculating area unoccupied by mitochondrial cristae