Applications of living myocardial slices
Living myocardial slices (LMS) retain native tissue architecture and extracellular matrix. The studies below illustrate research applications of this approach.
Study protocols may use adapted chambers or additional equipment. The cited research does not imply that every method is included in the standard MyoDish system.
Drug effects and cardiac safety
Follow acute and longer-term effects of compounds on contractile function in living myocardial slices (LMS), including human and porcine preparations.
- Contractility measurements for cardiotoxicity screening with ventricular myocardial slices of pigsShi R et al. Cardiovascular Research, 2023
- Dexrazoxane protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in susceptible human living myocardial slices: A proof-of-concept studyvan der Geest JSA et al. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2025
- Cardioprotective Effects of Semaglutide on Isolated Human Ventricular MyocardiumKrammer T et al. European Journal of Heart Failure, 2025
- Acute Biomechanical Effects of Empagliflozin on Living Isolated Human Heart Failure MyocardiumAmesz JH et al. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 2024
- Biomechanical response of ultrathin slices of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy tissue to myosin modulator mavacamtenAmesz JH et al. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2024
- Transcriptional and functional effects of mavacamten in multiple porcine and human models with hypertrophic cardiomyopathyKiselev E et al. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2026
- Ventricle-Specific Biomechanical Responses to Inotropic and Vasoactive Drugs in Human Myocardial SlicesLangmuur SJJ et al. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 2026
- Pharmacological inhibition of myosin reduces the cytotoxic effect of a Lys49 PLA2-like myotoxin on human and rat cardiac muscleAgyapong W et al. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2026
- Acute Biomechanical Effects of Cardiac Contractility Modulation in Living Myocardial Slices from End-Stage Heart Failure PatientsBierhuizen MFA et al. Bioengineering, 2025
Disease models
Study patient-derived myocardium or investigate responses to altered loading, hypoxia and other experimental interventions.
- The Degree of t-System Remodeling Predicts Negative Force-Frequency Relationship and Prolonged Relaxation Time in Failing Human MyocardiumAbu-Khousa M et al. Frontiers in Physiology, 2020
- Ex-vivo culture of human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy hearts: Functional and metabolic changes during long-term cultureNassar A et al. iScience, 2026
- Living myocardial slices retain patient-specific features: Insights into etiology and therapeutic historyvan der Geest JSA et al. JHLT Open, 2025
- Increase in mechanical load and pro-fibrotic stimulation leads to fibrotic and hypertrophic remodeling in porcine living myocardial slicesBentele M et al. Scientific Reports, 2025
- Prolonged Hypoxia in Rat Living Myocardial Slices Affects Function, Expression, and StructureWaleczek FJG et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
- Ex vivo modelling of cardiac injury identifies ferroptosis-related pathways as a potential therapeutic avenue for translational medicineAbbas N et al. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2024
- PKC-PKD-NFκB signalling induces cardiomyocyte t-tubule loss via a conserved macropinocytic mechanismMartinez-Vilchez A et al. Cardiovascular Research, 2026
Gene and RNA therapies
Investigate gene- and RNA-based interventions in LMS and relate molecular effects to contractile function.
- Somatic gene editing ameliorates skeletal and cardiac muscle failure in pig and human models of Duchenne muscular dystrophyMoretti A et al. Nature Medicine, 2020
- Inhibition of miR-21: cardioprotective effects in human failing myocardium ex vivoAbbas N et al. European Heart Journal, 2024
- MicroRNA-365 regulates human cardiac action potential durationEsfandyari D et al. Nature Communications, 2022
Excitation–contraction coupling and arrhythmia
Study pacing responses and atrial tissue function. Published calcium-imaging workflows use additional, dedicated measurement equipment.
- Synchronous force and Ca2+ measurements for repeated characterization of excitation-contraction coupling in human myocardiumSun Z et al. Communications Biology, 2024
- Biomimetic cultivation of atrial tissue slices as novel platform for in-vitro atrial arrhythmia studiesAmesz JH et al. Scientific Reports, 2023
- Long-Term Cultivation of Human Atrial MyocardiumKlumm MJ et al. Frontiers in Physiology, 2022
- The Degree of t-System Remodeling Predicts Negative Force-Frequency Relationship and Prolonged Relaxation Time in Failing Human MyocardiumAbu-Khousa M et al. Frontiers in Physiology, 2020
Stem cells, engineered tissue and regeneration
Explore mechanical conditioning of engineered heart tissue and experimental models of myocardial repair. Requirements depend on the tissue format and study design.
- Progressive stretch enhances growth and maturation of 3D stem-cell-derived myocardiumLu K et al. Theranostics, 2021
- Sequential Defects in Cardiac Lineage Commitment and Maturation Cause Hypoplastic Left Heart SyndromeKrane M et al. Circulation, 2021
- Migratory and anti-fibrotic programmes define the regenerative potential of human cardiac progenitorsPoch CM et al. Nature Cell Biology, 2022
- Spatiotemporal dynamics of the cardioimmune niche during lesion repairChan ASF et al. Nature Cardiovascular Research, 2025
Inflammation and infection
Investigate inflammatory and infection-related processes in a multicellular myocardial environment.
- Chemical and mechanical activation of resident cardiac macrophages in the living myocardial slice ex vivo modelWaleczek FJG et al. Basic Research in Cardiology, 2022
- SARS-CoV-2 infects and induces cytotoxic effects in human cardiomyocytesBojkova D et al. Cardiovascular Research, 2020
Teaching
MyoDish can support physiology teaching by making tissue contractions and responses to stimulation visible. Contact us to discuss a suitable practical course.
Planning a study in one of these areas? Tell us about it, and we will help you plan the setup.