Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes from Fresh Surgical Samples
14:39

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes from Fresh Surgical Samples

Published on: April 21, 2014

16.8K

Cardiomyogenesis in the aging and failing human heart

Jan Kajstura1, Marcello Rota, Donato Cappetta

  • 1Department of Anesthesia, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jkajstura@partners.org

Circulation
|September 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The adult human heart continuously renews its cells, including cardiomyocytes, throughout life. This dynamic cell turnover, significant in normal aging and heart failure, highlights the heart

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Conflicting views exist on cardiac growth: static (cells present at birth) vs. dynamic (myocyte regeneration).
  • Understanding cardiomyocyte turnover is crucial for cardiac health and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the turnover rates of cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells (ECs), and fibroblasts in the human heart.
  • To investigate how cell turnover changes with age and in chronic heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective 14C birth dating technique applied to cells from normal and failing human hearts.
  • Analysis of cell ages and turnover rates in individuals aged 2 to 78 years.

Main Results:

  • The human heart exhibits significant physiological and pathological turnover of ventricular myocytes, ECs, and fibroblasts.
  • Cell renewal is highest in infancy, decreases during maturation, and remains constant in adulthood, increasing with age.
  • Adult hearts replace myocyte, EC, and fibroblast compartments approximately 8, 6, and 8 times, respectively, between ages 20-78.
  • Chronic heart failure further enhances cell regeneration.

Conclusions:

  • The adult human heart is a dynamic organ with remarkable plasticity, even in heart failure.
  • Despite continuous cell regeneration, the heart's renewal capacity cannot fully prevent aging or counteract severe cardiomyopathies.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiomyocyte DNA Synthesis and Ploidy: A Method to Assist Quantification of Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Turnover08:03

Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiomyocyte DNA Synthesis and Ploidy: A Method to Assist Quantification of Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Turnover

Published on: May 23, 2016

11.2K
Simultaneous Isolation and Culture of Atrial Myocytes, Ventricular Myocytes, and Non-Myocytes from an Adult Mouse Heart11:53

Simultaneous Isolation and Culture of Atrial Myocytes, Ventricular Myocytes, and Non-Myocytes from an Adult Mouse Heart

Published on: June 14, 2020

9.0K

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
4.8K
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
3.3K
Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
1.7K
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.9K
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
790
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
805