1500A

Isolated Muscle System – Microscope Mountable

The Isolated Muscle Systems (1500A, 1510A and 1530A) are highly integrated, turnkey systems providing physiology researchers a simple way to control and measure intact muscle and physiological small tissue samples.

With numerous configuration options, these temperature-controlled systems have the versatility to precisely measure force and length of an array of small tissue types. From engineered tissue constructs to zebrafish, the 1500A system is the serious choice for functional muscle measurements. The glass bottom bath chamber with integrated stimulation electrodes and perfusion permit imaging of the sample while maintaining tissue viability. The apparatus includes XYZ micrometer stages with built-in mounts for our 400A series of force transducers, high-speed length controllers (322C), and our optional Dual-Mode lever systems (300C). The standard system configuration includes everything required to start testing immediately including apparatus, length controller, force transducer, stimulator, data acquisition hardware and our unique real-time Linux control and analysis software.

The force transducer is attached to the muscle through a unique slot in the end of the bath. This provides an ideal configuration for artificial muscle constructs or oxygen consumption studies that require the chamber to be sealed with an available lid. The 1500A system works with most inverted microscope, allowing integration of sarcomere length and biofluorimetry measurements. Pair your 1500A with our FluoroTrack and HVSL/VSL video sarcomere length modules for force, calcium and sarcomere length measurements all synchronized in real time. These advanced features allow researchers to completely characterize small intact muscle tissue performing all of the standard measurements including twitch, tetanus, fatigue, length-tension, force-frequency, force-velocity, stiffness and work loops.

Signal acquisition and data management is handled by our software, including standardized protocols, which transform complex experiments into simple and straightforward measurement. A stand is included with each system for easy storage and adaptation to a standard stereo or inverted microscope.

801C: Small Intact Muscle Apparatus – Microscope Mountable

complete Test System with integrated bath apparatus for small intact muscle
temperature controlled bath plate (sizes from 400µL to 1900µL)
control and measure both force and length
can be integrated with Aurora Scientific 900B Sarcomere Length software (HVSL/VSL)
compatible with standard and inverted microscopes
resolution as low as 0.01µN
force ranges from 0.5mN to 1000mN

System Variants

1510A: Isometric Force only variant

1530A: Dual-Mode lever system variant

Stories of Success

801C – Ability to Assess Oxygen Consumption/Customization

CHALLENGE

In 2008 Dr. Carter Ralphe at the University of Wisconsin was attempting to measure force and contractility in his tissue constructs in an oxygen sealed environment. Without the time to develop a custom solution, Dr. Ralphe sought help from equipment suppliers. Unfortunately, he wasted a lot of time and money trying equipment from other manufacturers that didn’t work. Although another manufacturer finally refunded his money it took more time and effort to get them to agree to take back their product.

SOLUTION

Dr. Ralphe consulted with Aurora Scientific for the design of a customized oxygen sealing lid that would work with a modified version of our 801C. The redesign allowed the unit to function in oxygen consumption mode or in a regular bath configuration. The customized chamber also allowed easy integration of Aurora Scientific’s industry leading 400 Series transducers which had the sensitivity required for the small and delicate constructs to be tested.

RESULTS

With this instrument, Dr. Ralphe was able to successfully complete his experiments and go on to publish influential results. He now has two units, expanding his research capabilities. Dr. Ralphe has also recommended the device to other researchers who, themselves, have gone on to publish. The 801C-300 has since become essentially a standard modification and a part of our 1500A series of small intact muscle test systems.

Select References

Norden, Diana M. et al. “Tumor growth increases neuroinflammation, fatigue and depressive-like behavior prior to alterations in muscle function.” Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (2015) DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.07.013
Tangney, Jared R. et al. “Timing and magnitude of systolic stretch affect myofilament activation and mechanical work.”” American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology (2014) DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00233.2014
Powers et al. “Subcellular Remodeling in Filamin C Deficient Mouse Hearts Impairs Myocyte Tension Development during Progression of Dilated Cardiomyopathy” International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022) DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020871
Schick et al. “Reduced preload increases Mechanical Control (strain-rate dependence) of Relaxation by modifying myosin kinetics” Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (2021) DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108909
Schick et al. “Reduced preload increases Mechanical Control (strain-rate dependence) of Relaxation by modifying myosin kinetics” Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (2021) DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108909
Zuo, Li, Leonardo Nogueira, and Michael C. Hogan. “Reactive oxygen species formation during tetanic contractions in single isolated Xenopus myofibers.” Journal of Applied Physiology (2011) DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00398.2011
Zhang et al. “Maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) in 3D collagen matrix: Effects of niche cell supplementation and mechanical stimulation” Acta Biomaterialia (2017) DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.11.058
Zuo, Li et al. “Low Po2 conditions induce reactive oxygen species formation during contractions in single skeletal muscle fibers.” American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2013) DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00563.2012
Gharanei, Mayel “Investigation into the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin on contractile function and the protection afforded by cyclosporin A using the work-loop assay.” Toxicology in Vitro (2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2014.01.011
Laurila et al. “Inhibition of sphingolipid de novo synthesis counteracts muscular dystrophy” Science Advances (2022) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abh4423
Blitz et al. “Infiltration of intramuscular adipose tissue impairs skeletal muscle contraction” The Journal of Physiology (2020) DOI: 10.1113/JP279595
Bailey et al. “Incubation with sodium nitrite attenuates fatigue development in intact single mouse fibres at physiological” The Journal of Physiology (2019) DOI: 10.1113/JP278494
Ferrera et al. “Hypothermia Decreases O2 Cost for ex vivo Contraction in Mouse Skeletal Muscle” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (2018) DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001673
Tangney, Jared R. “Effects of alterations in sarcomere structure and prestretch timing on cardiac muscle mechanics.” MSc Thesis. University of California San Diego (2012) DOI: N/A
Rhim, Caroline et al. “Effect of MicroRNA Modulation on Bioartificial Muscle Function.” Tissue Engineering (2010) DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2009.0601
Brynnel et al. “Downsizing the molecular spring of the giant protein titin reveals that skeletal muscle titin determines passive stiffness and drives longitudinal hypertrophy” eLife (2018) DOI: 10.7554/eLife.40532
Nogueira et al. “Cigarette smoke directly impairs skeletal muscle function through capillary regression and altered myofibre calcium kinetics in mice” The Journal of Physiology (2018) DOI: 10.1113/JP275888
Hall et al. “Cellular rescue in a zebrafish model of congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A” NPJ Regenerative Medicine (2019) DOI: 10.1038/s41536-019-0084-5
de Lange, Willem J. et al. “Ablation of cardiac myosin-binding protein-C accelerates contractile kinetics in engineered cardiac tissue.” Journal of General Physiology (2013) DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201210837

System Components

608C: LCD Monitor

A 22” widescreen LCD monitor providing high quality visualization of data collection

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Resources

Parts & Accessories

Model #	1500A
900B	Video Sarcomere Length (VSL) measurement system includes camera and VSL software that integrates with the 600A Digital Controller. The included USB camera operates at a frame rate of 80 frames per second (FPS) for full frames and up to a maximum of 1000 FPS for reduced frame sizes. The camera mounts via a C-mount adapter (not provided).
901B	High-Speed Video Sarcomere Length (HVSL) measurement system includes camera and HVSL software that integrates with the 600A Digital Controller. The included Gigabit Ethernet camera operates at a frame rate of 300 frames per second (FPS) for full frames and up to a maximum of 4700 FPS for reduced frame sizes. The camera mounts via a C-mount adapter (not provided).
902A	Simple laser diffraction instrument consisting of a laser diode assembly and a SL target assembly. The laser diode mounts to a microscope port via a C-mount adapter (not provided). The SL target assembly mounts to the apparatus. The laser shines through an empty objective port on the microscope turret and passes through the tissue. The sarcomeres in the tissue diffract the laser and form a diffraction pattern on the SL target thus indicating the Sarcomere Length. The desired spacing is set visually and no recording is made.
955A	Ratiometric calcium software which controls, records and analyses calcium transients. Integrates with 600A and VSL/HVSL to provide a complete software package which provides measurement and control of length, force, sarcomere length and calcium in a single file.
830A	Half-rack adapter that allows half-rack instruments to be mounted in standard 19” racking. Works with models: 200B, 315C/322C, 400A series, 701C and 825A.
831A	Heavy gauge, steel desktop or shelf-top rack, with standard 19” width for any Aurora Scientific Instruments. Available in various heights. (6U high for 1200A and 1300A, 5U high for 1400A, 1500A and 1600A systems).