Abstract
In this paper, to improve the spatiotemporal resolution and to reduce the invasiveness, mouse muscle cell lines, C2C12 myoblasts were genetically introduced light-gated ion channel, channelrhodopsin (ChR). The light pulses depolarized the membrane potential of a ChR-expressing myotube and eventually evoked action potentials dependent on the intensity and duration of the illumination. The light-activated contraction of the photosensitive myotube was obvious in synchronous to the light pulses of the given frequency and the pattern (1-10 Hz). This technique could facilitate the studies such as the fundamental biological processes during myogenic development, the stem cell therapy for muscular disorder, and the bioengineering using the muscle-powered actuator.
