• Small footprint
• Economical setup
• Data Recording and Analysis included
• Controlled heating from 30-42ºC, and optional cooling to 5ºC Modular design

Combining the versatility of the KG force transducers and a solid platform for mechanical studies, the Muscle Tester (Basic Research System) can be equipped with a linear motor and laser diode for running advanced muscle studies. With the Basic Tester, at least four key experimental areas of muscle research can be examined.

• By measuring the myomechanical properties of contracting and relaxing muscle strips, scientists can measure intact muscle responses to electrical stimulation or tetanus.
• Measure twitch amplitude and kinetics analysis, time to peak, 50% relaxation velocities, starling curve and diastolic force development.
• Add a linear motor with control units to measure mechanical muscle properties like slack-test, isotonic release, constant velocity release, stretch release, vibration studies, afterloaded contractions and eccentric contractions.
• Add a laser diode for simultaneous measurement of the sarcomere length

References

Bonz, A., Laser, M., Küllmer, S., Kniesch, S., Babin-Ebel., Popp, V., Ertl, G., Wagner, JA: Cannabinoids acting on CB1 receptors decrease contractile performance in human atrial muscle. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2003; 41(4):657-664

Bonz, A., Kniesch, S., Hofmann, U., Küllmer, S., Bauer, L., Wagner, L., Ertl, G., and Spindler, M.: Functional properties and [Ca2+ i] metabolism of creatine kinase-KO mice myocardium Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2002; 298 (1):163-8

Bonz, A., Vahl, C.F., Timek, T., and Hagl, S.: Contractile mapping of human recipient hearts. In M.M. Körfer, H Posival, R. Körfer (eds): Thoracic organ transplantation 1994; 1: 323 – 333

Hilber, K., and Galler, S.: Effects of myofibrillar bundle diameter on the unloaded shortening velocity of skinned skeletal muscle fibres. Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility 19:143-155 (1998)

Hofmann, U., Domeier, E., Laser, M., Frantz, S., Weckler, B., Kuhlencordt, P., Wagner, H., Popp, V., Keweloh, B., Ertl, G., and Bonz, A.: Impaired myocardial economy of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is related to a sphingosine signalling pathway. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 2003;284(6): H2100-H2105

Holubarsch, C., Lüdemann, J., Wiessner, S., Ruf, T., Schulte-Bauklof, H., Schmidt-Schweda, S., Pieske, B., Posival, H., and Just, H.: Shortening versus isometric contractionin isolated human failing and non-failing left ventricular myocardium: dependency of external workand force on muscle length, heart rate and inotropic stimulation. Cardiovasc. Res. 1998; 37:46-57

Kayhan, N., Schmidt, T.M., Bonz, A., Sonnenberg, K., Vahl, C.F., and Hagl, S.: Effects of trifluoperazine on the contraction kinetics of the isolated intact tracheal and pulmonary artery smooth muscle. Thorac Cardiovasc. Surg. 2002; 50(1): 49-54

Leijendekker, W.J. and Herzig, J.W.: Reduction of Myocardial Cross- Bridge Turnover Rate in Presence of EMD 53998, a Novel Ca Sensitizing Agent. Pfluger's Arch. Eur. J. Physiol. 421, 388-390, 1992.

Morano, M, Zacharzowsky, U., Maier, M., Lange P., E., Alexi-Meskishvili, V., Haase, H., and Morano, I.: Regulation of Human Heart Contractility by Essential Myosin Light Chain Isoforms. J. Clin. Invest. 98:2, 467-473 (1996)

Morano, M., Chai, G., Leonidas, G., Lamounier-Zepter, V., Lutsch, G., Kott, M., Haase, H., and Bader, M.: Smooth-muscle contraction without smoothmuscle myosin. Nature Cell Biology 2: 371-375, June 2000

Morano, I., Ritter, O., Michel, G., Bonz, A., Timek, T., and Vahl, C.F.: Interaction between type 1 myosin light chain and actin modulates force of contraction of human heart fibres. Circ. Res. 76 1995; (5): 720-725

Pieske, B., Trost, S., Schütt, K., Minami, K., Just, H., and Hasenfuss, G.: Influence of Forskolinon the force-frequency behavior in nonfailing and end-stage failing human myocardium. Basic Res. Cardiol. 1998; 93: 66-75

Vahl, C.F., Timek, T., Bonz, A., Kochsiek, N., Schäffer, I., Rosenberg, M., Dillmann, R., and Hagl, S.: Myocardial force-length relationship in end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy and normal myocardium: analysis of intact and skinned left ventricular trabeculae obtained during 11 heart transplantations. Basic Res. Cardiol. 1997; 92: 261-270

Vahl, C.F., Bauernschmitt, R., Bonz, A., Herold, U., Lang, A., Ziegler, S., and Hagl, S.: Increased resistance against shortening in myocardium from recipient hearts of 7 patients transplanted for dilated cardiomyopathy. Thoracic Cardiovasc. Surgeon 1993; 41: 224 - 232

Vahl, C.F., Bauernschmitt, R., Bonz, A., Herold, U., Ziegler, S., Lang, A., and Hagl, S.: Contractile behaviour of skinned papillary muscle in mitral valve disease. Thorac Cardiovasc. Surgeon 1992; 40: 253-260