Stem-Cell Derived Human Cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs): Cardiac Current Expression and Utility for Detection of Complex Mechanisms of Drug Action

In this application note from ChanTest, it was investigated whether stem-cell derived human cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) could be a valuable tool to assess drug effects on heart rate in the absence of autonomic input. Vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction, demonstrates systemic side effects, including reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increased heart rate. The effect of Vardenafil on cardiomyocyte beat rate was investigated using manual patch clamping of single, isolated, hESC-CMs, and cloned HCN4 channels.