Spontaneously contracting fish cell aggregates, use thereof and method for the production thereof

The invention relates to an in vitro method for producing spontaneously contracting fish cell aggregates, to the fish cell aggregates obtained thereby, and to the use thereof, in particular for testing biological active substances and pharmaceuticals. The in vitro method according to the invention for producing contracting fish cell aggregates comprises the following steps: a) mechanical comminution and/or partial enzymatic digestion of fish embryos or fish larvae; b) transfer of the comminuted and/or partially digested fish tissue into an enzyme-free medium and removing the supernatant by centrifuging to obtain a cell pellet; c) re-suspension of the cell pellet in a cell culture medium; d) culturing the cells, with the medium being changed at least once, until spontaneously contracting cell aggregates form.