Isolated smooth muscle cells preparation.

Detached smooth muscle cells from rat gastric antrum were isolated by incubation with collagenase and examined for viability and motility. Each stomach yielded about 10(7) muscle cells and were judged as intact and viable by the trypan blue dye exclusion. It is concluded that isolated smooth muscle cells of the rat gastric antrum by the technique of incubation with collagenase are judged viable and suitable for characterization of receptors on the surface membranes of these cells.