A novel and unique refraction-based optical recording system for pharmacological investigations on isolated muscle preparations

In the field of neuroscience and ecotoxicology, there is a great need for investigating the effect(s) of a variety of different chemicals (e.g., pharmacologically active compounds, pesticides, neurotransmitters, modulators) at different biological levels. Different contractile tissue preparations have provided excellent model systems for in vitro pharmacological experiments for a long time. However, such investigations usually apply mechanical force transducer-based approaches. Thus, a rapid, easy, cheap, digital, and reproducible in vitro • A versatile and unique refraction-based optical recording system with a Java application was developed. • The recording system was tested and validated on isolated heart preparations obtained from the widely used invertebrate model organism, the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis). • The recording system illustrates the progression of technology from the mechanical force transducer system and can represent a suitable tool in ecotoxicology or neuroscience.