Living myocardial slices, beating for days to months
MyoDish combines long-term culture of living myocardial slices (LMS) with mechanical loading, electrical stimulation and continuous force recording. Follow contractile function in the same slice over days to months.
Explore the MyoDish system · Papers citing Fischer et al. on Google Scholar
Explore the published research
The foundation: Fischer et al., Nature Communications (2019). Discover applications, methods and results from the LMS community.
One slice per chamber, every contraction recorded
MyoDish combines LMS culture with continuous functional assessment. Each platform accommodates eight separate culture chambers, with an individual force signal for each myocardial slice.
Mechanical loading
Adjustable preload keeps the myocardial slice under tension. An elastic attachment allows it to shorten against elastic resistance during each contraction.
Continuous force measurement
Each chamber has its own force readout. Follow changes in contraction strength and timing in the same slice over the course of your experiment.
Electrical stimulation
Electrodes pace the myocardial slice. Software controls the stimulation protocol and records its contractile response.
A culture environment that supports function
The platform gently rocks inside a CO2 incubator, supporting medium movement and oxygen supply around the slice.
What LMS researchers study
Living myocardial slices (LMS) retain native multicellular architecture and extracellular matrix. They connect controlled experiments with the structural complexity of adult myocardium.
Drug effects and cardiac safety
Follow acute and longer-term effects of compounds on contractile function in living myocardial tissue, including human and porcine preparations.
Cardiotoxicity and cardio-oncology workflow
For example Shi et al., 2023, van der Geest et al., 2025, Krammer et al., 2025
Disease models
Study patient-derived myocardium or investigate responses to altered loading, hypoxia and other experimental interventions.
For example Abu-Khousa et al., 2020, Nassar et al., 2026, van der Geest et al., 2025
Gene and RNA therapies
Investigate gene- and RNA-based interventions in living myocardial tissue and relate molecular effects to contractile function.
For example Moretti et al., 2020, Abbas et al., 2024, Esfandyari et al., 2022
Excitation–contraction coupling and arrhythmia
Study pacing responses and atrial tissue function. Published calcium-imaging workflows use additional, dedicated measurement equipment.
For example Sun et al., 2024, Amesz et al., 2023, Klumm et al., 2022
Stem cells, engineered tissue and regeneration
Explore mechanical conditioning of engineered heart tissue and experimental models of myocardial repair. Requirements depend on the tissue format and study design.
For example Lu et al., 2021, Krane et al., 2021, Poch et al., 2022
Inflammation and infection
Investigate inflammatory and infection-related processes in a multicellular myocardial environment.
For example Waleczek et al., 2022, Bojkova et al., 2020
Products
Developed by physiologists, with production and support based in Erlangen. MyoDish is used by more than 100 customers in more than 25 countries.
MyoDish culture system
Eight positions for long-term LMS culture, electrical pacing and continuous force recording.
Culture chambers
SV2 chamber bodies and complete sets in four elastic-load variants.
MyoDish Tester
Check and calibrate chamber and sensor combinations.
Microscope Adapter
Bring your myocardial slice onto the microscope stage.
Essential Medium Heater
Keep culture medium warm during handling and medium changes.
External Controller Unit
Pace one chamber and record force outside the culture platform.
Accessories and software
Replacement parts, consumables and software for your slice experiments.
Selected publications in LMS research
Our selection covers research articles and reviews on LMS and biomimetic culture. Explore selected recent studies below, or follow the wider literature through Google Scholar.
- PKC-PKD-NFκB signalling induces cardiomyocyte t-tubule loss via a conserved macropinocytic mechanismMartinez-Vilchez A et al. Cardiovascular Research, 2026
- Ventricle-Specific Biomechanical Responses to Inotropic and Vasoactive Drugs in Human Myocardial SlicesLangmuur SJJ et al. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 2026
- Ex-vivo culture of human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy hearts: Functional and metabolic changes during long-term cultureNassar A et al. iScience, 2026
Planning a slice culture study?
Tell us your tissue, species and how many slices you want to run in parallel. We will reply with a quote and help you choose the right setup.