Mechanically loaded contraction and mechano-chemo-transduction of cardiomyocytes from R92Q.

<p>(A) We used our Cell-in-Gel system [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160605#pone.0160605.ref033" target="_blank">33</a>] to impose a mechanical load during cardiomyocyte contraction. (B) Fluo-4 confocal linescan images show Ca²⁺ signals during systole and diastole. Cell contraction was seen in the edge shortening. The cells were able to reach steady-state contraction. Cardiomyocytes contracting in normal Tyrode solution were defined as the load-free control. (C) Systolic Ca²⁺ transient (CaT) peak in cell-in-gel (n = 15) vs load-free control (n = 19). (D) Fractional shortening of cardiomyocyte contraction in-gel (n = 15 cells) vs load-free control (n = 18). (E) Mechano-chemo-transduction was seen in the significant enhancement of the Ca²⁺ transient under load (n = 15), compared with load-free group (n = 19). (F) Meanwhile, the fractional shortening was significantly decreased under mechanical load (n = 15), compared with load-free group (n = 18). Unpaired Student’s t test; *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001.