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Mechanical properties of mammalian single smooth muscle cells II. Evaluation of a modified technique for attachment of cells to the measurement apparatus

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Summary

A method is described for attaching isolated single smooth muscle cells to an apparatus designed for measuring the longitudinal forces developed passively and actively by the cell upon straining, electrical or pharmacological stimulation.

Primary attachment of the cell is based on its natural negative surface charge in combination with a positive surface charge on the micro-tools used for attaching. Definite attachment is obtained by a knotting technique. Results show that this method of attachment is reliable and strong enough to withhold forces exceeding those necessary to break or tear the cell.

Although this method allows relatively short cells to be attached (L >80μm). alternative methods e.g. glueing, are necessary to attach the shortest smooth muscle cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology nad Biomedical Physics and Technology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    J. J. Glerum & R. Van Mastrigt

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  1. J. J. Glerum
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  2. R. Van Mastrigt
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Glerum, J.J., Van Mastrigt, R. Mechanical properties of mammalian single smooth muscle cells II. Evaluation of a modified technique for attachment of cells to the measurement apparatus. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 11, 338–343 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01766672

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