1200B
Integrated Isolated Muscle Test System for Rodents
The 1200B integrated isolated muscle test system is a leading solution for quantifying mechanical properties of isolated muscle. This system utilizes the power of our long standing 1200A isolated muscle system and creates a smaller footprint for labs with limited or non-permanent space. It is ideal for a number of skeletal muscles including the EDL, Soleus, laryngeal, diaphragm strips and other smaller muscle samples.
Included is apparatus designed for mouse and rat muscle, complete with a water-jacketed bath and oxygenating bubbler. In addition, we include our Integrated Muscle Test Controller that conveniently houses our flagship Dual-Mode muscle lever system along with a high-power field stimulator and USB data acquisition hardware into a single unit. With our added control and analysis software on a portable laptop, experimental setup, data collection and data analysis can all be done in a matter of minutes.
Parameters such as resting length, resting force, stimulation and experimental protocols are all set using the control software. An extensive library of standard experiments such as twitch, tetanus, fatigue, force-frequency, force-velocity, stiffness and work loops are also provided with each package.
The experimental apparatus is adjustable allowing the researcher to lower and raise the bath to attach and manipulate the muscle. Force and length are measured at only one attachment point, minimizing setup time and boosting productivity.
Go Beyond Isometric Measurements
Complete characterization of muscle function is achieved using our 300E series Dual-Mode muscle levers, a force transducer and fast length motor in one. Isotonic, eccentric and force-velocity protocols are easily accomplished and supplement basic isometric twitch and tetanus measurements.
Lightning Fast Data Analysis
Experience high-throughput data analysis, including batch processing and multi-parameter calculations for hundreds of muscle samples within minutes. Downstream analysis can be completed with the Aurora Scientific DMC/DMA software or exported to your analysis program of choice.
Precise and Robust Components
Aurora Scientific has a long history of supplying some of the most accurate transducers and muscle physiology components for life science research. Our legacy systems date back more than 30 years with many still in use today..
Standard Protocol Library
The protocol library includes a variety of muscle experiments for mouse in-vitro studies. Protocols include system operation and data acquisition settings optimized for sample type and measurement needs. Custom protocols can be added to streamline system operation with multiple lab members.
Stories of Success
1200A – Easy to Use System Is an Invaluable Tool for Lab
CHALLENGE
In 2013 Aurora Scientific was approached by Dr. Espen Spangenburg at the University of Maryland about our 1200A test system for working with isolated EDL and soleus muscle taken from mice. Dr. Spangenburg studied the mechanisms of muscle metabolism and intended to make use of in-vitro techniques to perform his research. While Dr. Spangenburg was familiar with these types of experiments from his work with similar home built equipment used in graduate school, he needed something easy to use and reliable for his own lab.
SOLUTION
Though the system was essentially a standard configuration, the 1200A proved that it is an easy to use, turnkey system for measuring mechanics of intact excised muscle. Aurora Scientific provided Dr. Spangenburg with a robust, accurate system that was capable of being configured to fit his specific needs. The system was engineered to include an adjustable tissue bath and mounts to simplify experimental setup. In addition, we included our flagship Dual-Mode muscle lever enabling the control of both force and length for a gamut of experimental protocols. Aurora Scientific provided further technical support to Dr. Spangenburg’s students covering software use and best practices for using the system.
RESULTS
Dr. Spangenburg was easily able to set up and configure the equipment to his lab’s needs and obtained high quality contractile data immediately with the first muscle tested using the system. The ability to adjust the tissue bath and mounts to suit their needs provided an avenue for straightforward tissue attachment and Lo measurement for accurate and reproducible experimentation. Control and measurement of force and length allowed the lab to go beyond isometric measurement to test more complex muscle mechanics, such as eccentric and concentric contractions. The test system proved to be easy to use by both professor and student alike and was used by the lab for several subsequent studies. The 1200A enabled them to expand their research resulting in a number of publications and remains an essential piece of equipment for the lab to date.
Select References
- Charles et al. “The impacts of muscle-specific force-velocity properties on predictions of mouse muscle function during locomotion” Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2024) DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1436004
- Segales et al. “Sestrin prevents atrophy of disused and aging muscles by integrating anabolic and catabolic signals” Nature communications (2020) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13832-9
- Gorini et al. “Reversible temporally-specific inhibition of muscle using a light-activated chloride channel” bioRxiv (2018) DOI: 10.1101/398156
- Cosentino et al. “Remodeled eX vivo muscle engineered tissue improves heart function after chronic myocardial ischemia” Scientific Reports (2023) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37553-8
- Ruud et al. “Regulation of cardiomyocyte t-tubule structure by preload and afterload: Roles in cardiac compensation and decompensation” The Journal of Physiology (2024) DOI: 10.1113/JP284566
- Llewellyn, Michael E. et al. “Orderly recruitment of motor units under optical control in vivo.” Nature Medicine (2010) DOI: 10.1038/nm.2228
- Ma et al. “Myosin Head Configurations in Resting and Contracting Murine Skeletal Muscle” Internation Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018) DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092643
- Hamoudi et al. “Muscle weakness and selective muscle atrophy in osteoprotegerin-deficient mice” Human Molecular Genetics (2020) DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz312
- Delfinis et al. “Muscle weakness and mitochondrial stress occur before severe metastasis in a novel mouse model of ovarian cancer cachexia” Molecular Metabolism (2024) DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024
- Tatarenko et al. “Multiscale analysis of Klf10’s impact on the passive mechanical properties of murine skeletal muscle” Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2024) DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106298
System Components
150A: Integrated Muscle Test Controller
The 150A Integrated Muscle Test Controller is a new family of integrated instruments which combine a standard Aurora Scientific 300C Series Dual-Mode Lever System, 701C Stimulator and USB Data Acquisition hardware into one standard-sized enclosure.
Learn More
615A: Dynamic Muscle Control and Analysis Software
Dynamic Muscle Control and Analysis Software Suite handles experimental control, data collection and data analysis for muscle contractile experiments
Learn More
800C: in-vitro Muscle Apparatus
Flexible design makes these systems the ideal choice for measuring muscle properties of intact muscle tissue in mice and rats
Learn MoreResources
Parts & Accessories
| Model # | 1200A |
|---|---|
| 800-EA | Replacement electrode assembly |
| 800-LTC | Lower tissue clamp assembly for 800C mouse in-vitro apparatus – includes: electrode clamp, lower tissue clamp, lower tissue plate, support tube and support tube clamp |
| 800-FT | Adaptor mount for 400A series force transducers – converts 800C to strictly isometric |
| 800-TB-10 | 10mL Radnoti tissue bath which mounts to 800C-10mL mouse in-vitro apparatus |
| 800-TB-50 | 50mL Radnoti tissue bath which mounts to 800C mouse in-vitro apparatus |
| 800-OXY | Oxygenating tube for Radnoti tissue bath |
| 800-TC-18 | Teflon thermocouple probe for measuring bath temperature |
| 300-3B | 3 cm long replacement lever arm, attaches to 300E or older 300B/C series motors for in-vitro and in-situ measurement |
| 300-4B | 4 cm long replacement lever arm, attaches to 305E or older 305B/C series motors for in-vitro and in-situ measurement |
| 300-CLA | Custom length replacement lever arm, attaches to 300/305E or older 300B/C and 305B/C series motors for in-vitro and in-situ measurement |
| 300-CBL-3 | 3m replacement motor cable (other lengths available on request) |
| 300-CBL-FR | 0.4m long cable to reverse force direction of 300E/305E motor |
| 300-MOTOR | Replacement motor for 300C dual-mode lever system (Lever arm sold separately) |
| 305E-MOTOR | Replacement motor for 305E dual-mode lever system (Lever arm sold separately) |
| 603D | 16-bit NI X Series USB A/D with interface |
| 603E | 16-bit NI X Series PCI express A/D card |
| 606A | (2) 150cm long BNC to BNC cables |
| 607A | 50 Ohm BNC terminator to minimize channel crosstalk within signal interface |
| 607B | 50 Ohm BNC Tee adapter allowing connection of two BNC cables to one BNC port |
| 615B | 2nd Copy of DMC and DMA suite software |
| 615C | DMC and DMA suite software upgrade |
| 608C | 22” LCD monitor |
| 827A | Heated Water Circulator for maintaining temperature of bath solution (North America power ONLY) |
| 830A | Half-rack adapter that allows half-rack instruments to be mounted in standard 19” racking (works with models: 400A series and 701C |
| 831A | Heavy gauge, steel desktop or shelf-top rack, with standard 19” width for any Aurora Scientific instruments (6U high for 1200A) |