A microdevice for examining cardiac gap junction

Abstract

This paper reports a microengineered device capable of applying electrical stimulation to the selected cell, and examining intercellular electro-mechanical propagation through the gap junction of the stimulated and the un-stimulated cell in a longitudinally connected doublet of adult cardiac myocytes. Since the contractile performance of the un-stimulated cells due to direct electrical stimulation is eliminated, this work provides a quantitative tool for studying intercellular electro-mechanical transduction at the gap junction and is expected to develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of intercellular communication in various heart diseases.