Development of local cell stimulation method using ultrasound exposure in presence of microbubbles

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A novel technique for local mechanical stimulation of cells was proposed to studymechanotransduction of living cells. A cell with an attached micron-sized bubble is stimulated by this techniqueby using the effect of larger acoustic radiation force being applied to the bubble than to the cell. Optical tweezerswere used to control the position of a bubble. Cardiac myocytes isolated from neonatal rats were used formechanical stimulation, and a cell culture chamber for microscopic observation under exposure of ultrasoundexposure was developed. Cardiac myocytes with attached microbubbles were irradiated with ultrasound, and thegeneration of premature ventricular contraction by the mechanical stimulation was confirmed. Experiments toevaluate the refractory period of the myocytes were carried out using this technique, and changes in the perioddepending on the beating frequency were found, suggesting the usefulness of the proposed technique for studying cell reactions to mechanical stimulation.