The use of a novel cardiac bioreactor system in investigating fibroblast physiology and its perspectives.

The physical environment of myocardium, featuring excitation-contraction coupling, constant and efficient provision of nutrient/oxygen and delicate integration of cardiomyocytes and supporting cell population (fibroblasts, endothelial cells), is one of the most complex systems in human body. Numerous studies have demonstrated the significance of physical stimulation in cardiac cell physiology, including the maintenance of contractile function in cardiomyocytes, ( 1) cell alignment and extracellular matrix secretion in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. ( 2) (,) ( 3) In effort to reconstruct the physical environment found in the cardiac niche for routine cell culture use, we have devised a bioreactor system to account for three major forms of physical stimuli, namely, cyclic stretch, electrical stimulation and fluid perfusion. ( 4).