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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts
Published on: January 24, 2014
Bone marrow mononuclear stem cells transplanted in rat infarct myocardium improved the electrical conduction without
Boyoung Joung1, Il-kwon Kim, Moon-Hyoung Lee
1Division of Cardiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Insights
Stem cell transplantation (SCT) in a rat cryo-infarct model did not increase arrhythmia but improved electrical conduction. This study investigated the arrhythmogenic effects of SCT in myocardial infarction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
Background:
- The arrhythmogenic potential of stem cell transplantation (SCT) in infarct myocardium remains unclear.
- Investigating SCT's effect on cardiac electrical activity is crucial for understanding its therapeutic safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the arrhythmogenicity of stem cell transplantation (SCT) in a rat cryo-infarct model.
- To assess the impact of SCT on ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) inducibility and electrical conduction.
Main Methods:
- A rat cryo-infarct model was established.
- Bone marrow mononuclear stem cells (MNSC) were transplanted into the infarct border zone.
- Optical mapping and VT/VF inducibility were compared between normal, cryo-infarct, and SCT groups.
Main Results:
- VT/VF inducibility was higher in cryo-infarct (47.2%) and SCT (34.6%) groups compared to normal (12.8%).
- Sustained VT/VF episodes (>2 min) occurred in 26.4% of cryo-infarct and 17.3% of SCT rats.
- SCT improved action potential duration and conduction, with no observed reentry or ectopic foci around SCT sites.
Conclusions:
- Stem cell transplantation (SCT) did not augment arrhythmia in the rat cryo-infarct model.
- SCT demonstrated improved electrical conduction in the infarct myocardium.
- These findings suggest SCT is a potentially safe therapeutic strategy for myocardial infarction.
Purpose:
The arrhythmogenic effect of stem cells transplantation (SCT) in an infarct myocardium is still unknown. We investigated arrhythmogenicity of SCT in rat cryo-infarct model.
Materials And Methods:
In rat cryo-infarct model, bone marrow mononuclear stem cells (MNSC, 1 x 10(7) cells) were transplanted into the infarct border zone (BZ) of the LV epicardium. We compared the optical mapping and inducibility of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) among normal (n=5), cryo-infarct (n=6), and SCT rats (n=6).
Results:
The VT/VF inducibility was higher in the cryo- infarct (47.2%, p=0.001) and SCT groups (34.6%, p=0.01) than in the normal group (12.8%). The induced VT/VF episodes persisted for more than 2 minutes in 4.3%, 26.4% and 17.3% in the normal, cryo-infarct and SCT group, respectively. In the SCT group, the action potential duration at 70% was shorter at the SCT site than the BZ during SR (75.2 +/- 8.1 vs. 145.6 +/- 4.4 ms, p=0.001) and VT (78.2 +/- 13.0 vs. 125.7 +/- 21.0 ms, p= 0.001). Conduction block was observed at the SCT site and BZ during VT. However, no reentry or ectopic foci were observed around the SCT sites.
Conclusion:
The electrical conduction was improved by SCT without evidence of augmentation of arrhythmia in the rat cryo-infarct model.
