Perfusion Systems for Cell Isolation (PSCI) from Heart, Liver and Other Organs

The Perfusion System for Cell Isolation (PSCI) is specially designed for harvesting individual cells from isolated organs such as mouse, rat or guinea pig heart, liver and other organs.  The system features low deadspace volume dual stainless steel warming coil circuits for blanching and enzymatic solutions.

Cell Isolation from Liver and Other Organs

Cardiomyocyte Isolation

As noted in the Item listing, you may purchase the base unit alone and add additional required items (see below).

Cell Isolation from Liver and Other Organs

Features & Benefits

• Allows cell isolation from mouse, rat and guinea pig organs by enzymatic disintegration
• System allows in-situ or ex vivo perfusion (OP-table or moist chamber additionally required)
• Specifically engineered dual perfusion system for blood cell flush and enzymatic disintegration
• Dedicated setup for cardiomyocyte isolation (see cardiomyocyte isolation)   

Applications

• Harvesting individual cells from mouse, rat or guinea pig isolated organs 

Base units include:  

Plexiglass stand, double heat exchanger, switching valve, protease reservoir and holder for pressure transducer. System volume: <5 ml.

Additional equipment required: 

Thermocirculator, peristaltic pump, reservoir, cannulae and others depending on version and application, transducers, monitoring system setup using the PLUGSYS Amplifier System.  In-situ perfusion requires an operating table.

Adaptation for Ex Vivo Perfusion

The PSCI can be adapted for ex vivo perfusion by adding a jacketed moist chamber and appropriate cannula for the organ of interest.

Adaptation for In Situ Perfusion

The PSCI can be adapted for in situ perfusion by adding an operating table and appropriate cannula for the organ of interest.

Adaptation for Cardiomyocyte Isolation

See details below.

Setup and Operation

The system has two separate perfusion circuits and a specialized stopcock which allows the organ to be easily switched between the two circuits. The first circuit is filled with organ blanching perfusion solution and is used in the initial phase of the isolation process to flush out the blood cells from the organ. For the second phase, the system is switched to the second circuit which is filled with an enzyme solution for disintegration.

In the standard PSCI system, perfusion is performed under constant flow conditions. A peristaltic pump (purchased separately) is used to adjust the flow to a rate appropriate for the organ of interest. The system itself can handle flow rates of up to 100 ml/min, depending on the specific configuration. A pressure transducer and amplifier can easily be added to a set up to monitor perfusion pressure. Furthermore, the system can be upgraded to constant pressure perfusion with the addition of the SCP controller.

The easy to use system is designed to be as compact and user friendly as possible. Components that come in contact with perfusion solutions are alcohol resistant so that the perfusion circuits can be filled with alcohol to clean and sterilize after use.

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Cardiomyocyte Isolation

The heart version of the PSCI includes a jacketed heart chamber mounted on a movable platform. A slow gas flow into this chamber creates a positive pressure inside the heart chamber minimizing ingress of bacteria during operation.

Features & Benefits

• Dual perfusion system for blood cell flushing and enzymatic digestion
• Compatible with disinfection using ethanol
• Positive pressure gas flow in heart chamber and reservoir prevent bacterial contamination
• Low priming volume < 5ml conserves protease solution and minimizes temperature loss through tubing.
• Multi-purpose system can be fitted for use with other organs (e.g. in situ or ex vivo hepatocyte isolation from rat or mouse liver)

Applications

• Cardiomyocyte isolation
• Monitoring perfusion pressure
• Monitoring coronary flow (requires SCP Servo Control addition)

Complete Functional Systems

     a. Both base units include Plexiglass stand, double exchanger, switching valve, protease reservoir and holder for            pressure transducer.

     b. Other In Situ perfusion cannula sizes available

Optional Additions for Accurate Control of Perfusion Pressure or Flow

Addition for perfusion pressure measurement to PSCI: Add 73-1523 PLUGSYS Minicase, Type 609; 73-1793 TAM-D; 73-3862 APT300

Addition for constant pressure perfusion to PSCI: In addition to above, add 73-2806, Servo Controller for Perfusion (SCP)

Setup & Operation

The PSCI can be operated in either single pass or recirculating constant flow perfusion at rates up to 100 ml/min.  As noted above, upgrade options are available for pressure monitoring or constant pressure perfusion.

The apparatus is so designed that the individual steps required for preparing the cells can proceed as simply and clearly as possible. With two separate perfusion circuits, the organ can be switched between clearing buffer for removal of blood cells and collagenase buffer for organ digestion by means of a custom, precision-milled changeover stopcock; saving valuable time and solution.

Common additions to the PSCI include perfusion pressure measurement and constant pressure perfusion. These options allow for optimized perfusion of the heart, further maximizing cell yield and viability by ensuring non-damaging physiological perfusion conditions.  The components wetted by the perfusion solutions are made from alcohol-resistant materials so that the apparatus can be filled with ethanol for sterilization/disinfection should your experiment require prolonged incubation time where bacterial contamination would be problematic.

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