Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter describes a method for preparing practically pure cultures of cardiac myoblasts and fibroblasts. By using this technique, the properties of three functionally distinct types of cell junctions and the effects of association of heterotypic cells can be determined. In a study described in the chapter, the attenuation length of mixed cultures was intermediate between the two extremes. Electrotonic coupling was found between heterotypic cells (myoblasts and fibroblasts). The measured membrane potential of fibroblasts was higher when they were in intimate association with myoblasts in mixed cultures than in pure cultures. Conversely, the resting potential of stray myoblast contaminants in predominantly fibroblastic cultures was of the same magnitude as that of the surrounding fibroblasts. Neither myoblast–myoblast junctions nor fibroblast–fibroblast junctions exhibited rectification. Typical nexuses were found at myoblast–myoblast junctions but not at fibroblast–fibroblast and myoblast–fibroblast junctions. This suggests that electrotonic coupling may occur through junctional structures other than the nexus.
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