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Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts
Published on: January 24, 2014
Heart cell transplantation improves heart function in dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters
1Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Heart cell transplantation into dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters improved cardiac function. Transplanted cells formed cardiac-like tissue, enhancing contractile performance in diseased hearts.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The effects of heart cell transplantation on dilated cardiomyopathy remain largely unknown.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy significantly impairs heart function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ventricular heart cell transplantation on the myocardium of hamsters with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Main Methods:
- Ventricular heart cells were isolated, cultured, and labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU).
- Cells were transplanted into the left ventricular free wall of adult cardiomyopathic hamsters.
- Heart function was assessed using a Langendorff preparation four weeks post-transplantation.
Main Results:
- BrdU-stained transplanted cells were identified at the transplantation sites.
- Transplanted hearts demonstrated significantly improved developed pressures and dP/dt compared to control and sham groups.
- Histology revealed severe focal myocardial necrosis in all groups, indicating disease progression despite treatment.
Conclusions:
- Transplanted ventricular heart cells integrated and formed cardiac-like tissue within the cardiomyopathic myocardium.
- This cardiac-like tissue significantly improved the contractile function of the diseased hearts.
Background:
Little is known about the effect of heart cell transplantation into the dilated cardiomyopathic myocardium. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of heart cell transplantation into dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters.
Methods And Results:
Ventricular heart cells were isolated from 4-week-old BIO 53. 58 hamsters and cultured for 2 weeks before transplantation. The cells were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) before transplantation for identification. Adult hamsters (17 weeks old) were used as recipients. Heart cells (4 x 10(6) cells) or culture medium was transplanted into the left ventricular free wall (transplantation and control groups, respectively, n=12 each). Sham-operated hamsters (n=12) underwent the surgery but not the transplantation. Cyclosporine A was administered subcutaneously to all hamsters daily after the operation. Four weeks after the transplantation, heart function was evaluated with the use of a Langendorff preparation. Histology showed severe focal myocardial necrosis in all groups. BrdU-stained tissue was found at the cell transplantation sites. The transplanted hearts had greater (P:<0. 001) developed pressures at all balloon volumes and improved dP/dt (transplantation 915+/-253 versus control 453+/-120 and sham 530+/-187 mm Hg/s, P:<0.001, balloon volume of 15 microL). No differences in ventricular function were found between control and sham-operated hamsters.
Conclusions:
The transplanted ventricular heart cells formed cardiac-like tissue in cardiomyopathic myocardium and improved its contractile function.
