About hard working and lazy heart cells. How to grow the myocytes and activate them to beat strongly

Authors: K. Nakano & V.L. Popov. Prof. Ken Nakano from the Yokohama National University, in collaboration with his colleagues, demonstrated that spherical self-beating aggregates of heart cells, cardiomyocytes, produce enhanced mechanical energy under mechanical compression and work cooperatively via mechanical communication. Prof. Nakano concludes that the loaded cells are hardworking while the non-loaded “lazy”. Details of the study are described in the original paper: Nakano, K., Nanri, N., Tsukamoto, Y. et al. Mechanical activities of self-beating cardiomyocyte aggregates under mechanical compression. Sci Rep 11, 15159 (2021). 0:00 Laboratory of Prof. Ken Nakano at the Yokohama National University 0:47 Cooperation partners 1:16 Growing culture of human stem cells 1:41 Transforming stem cells to cardiac cells (myocytes) 2:11 Preparing cardiac spheroids 3:01 Mechanical loading of cardiac spheroids 4:06 Synchronization of beating of two cardiac spheroids 5:33 Mechanical work of beats at increasing normal force 6:49 Conclusion by Prof. Nakano: the loaded heart cells are heavy working while the non-loaded - lazy! Design and carrying out of experiments: Prof. Ken Nakano Comments: Prof. Valentin L. Popov