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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats
Published on: February 16, 2011
G-CSF does not improve systolic function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction
João Pedro S Werneck-de-Castro1, Ricardo Henrique Costa-E-Sousa, Patricia Fidelis de Oliveira
1Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ CCS, Bloco G Ilha do Fundão, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Insights
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) did not improve cardiac function or prevent remodeling in a rat myocardial infarction model. The treatment failed to show benefits despite mobilizing bone marrow stem cells.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Regenerative Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known to mobilize bone marrow stem cells into peripheral circulation.
- Previous reports suggest G-CSF may enhance cardiac performance post-myocardial infarction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic effect of G-CSF on cardiac function and remodeling in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.
- To determine if G-CSF administration improves cardiovascular performance after inducing myocardial infarction.
Main Methods:
- Adult rats underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to induce myocardial infarction.
- G-CSF (100 microg/kg) or vehicle was administered subcutaneously twice daily for seven days, starting three hours post-ligation.
- Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography, hemodynamic measurements, and exercise stress tests 19-21 days after infarction.
Main Results:
- Rats with myocardial infarction exhibited impaired cardiac function compared to sham-operated controls.
- No significant differences in cardiac function were observed between the G-CSF treated group and the control group at rest or during exercise.
- Histological analysis revealed no differences in infarct size or signs of cardiac regeneration between the groups.
Conclusions:
- G-CSF treatment did not prevent cardiac remodeling or improve cardiovascular function in this rat model of acute myocardial infarction.
- Despite successful bone marrow stem cell mobilization, G-CSF failed to confer therapeutic benefits on cardiac performance.
- Further research may be needed to explore alternative G-CSF delivery methods or patient populations.
Objective:
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported to improve cardiac performance by increasing the number of bone marrow stem cell in the peripheral circulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of G-CSF administration on cardiac function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.
Methods:
Recombinant human G-CSF (Filgrastim, 100 microg/kg, sc) twice a day during seven consecutive days (G-CSF group, n=13) or vehicle (control group, n=10) was administrated three hours after left anterior coronary artery ligation. Cardiac performance was evaluated 19-21 days after myocardial infarction by electro- and echocardiography, hemodynamic and treadmill exercise test.
Results:
Both infarcted groups exhibit impaired cardiac function compared to sham-operated rats. Moreover, all cardiac functional parameters were not statistically different between G-CSF and infarcted group at resting conditions as well as after treadmill exercise stress test. There was no sign of cardiac regeneration and infarct size was not different on histological analysis between groups.
Conclusions:
These data clearly shows that G-CSF treatment was unable to prevent cardiac remodeling or to improve cardiovascular function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction, by permanent LAD ligation, despite bone marrow stem cell mobilization.
