PRIMARY CELL CULTURE FOR EMBRYONIC CARDIAC MYOCYTES OF MEXICAN AXOLOTL AND DISTRIBUTION OF DESMIN AND VIMENTIN

Desmin and vimentin are major components of intermediate filament proteins in cardiac myocytes. We developed a primary cell culture method for cardiac myocytes of axolotl embryos. Cardiac myocytes of embryonic stage 39 were cultured for 1-14 days. Myocytes showed spontaneous contractions (15-30 beats/min) after 48-72 hours in culture, round shape and large irregular projections. Desmin and vimentin were observed in the cultured myocytes by means of immunofluorescent staining in combination with immunofluorescent microscopy. Immunofluorescent staining of the cultured cardiac myocytes after different lengths of time in culture(3,6,9 days) showed that vimentin staining was stronger than desmin staining during the early stages of culture (3 days). The myocytes exhibited various forms of staining, including parallel lines and interconnected networks. Some lines showed regular striation; most of the myofibrils were arranged in parallel arrays along the cell's long axis. Both desmin and vimentin in the cell appeared to encirele the Z lines and to link myofibrils laterally at the Z lines.