Observation of cardiac function in rats with myocardial infarct after autologous smooth muscle cell transplantation

Ming LIU; Baoren ZHANG; Liangjian ZOU; Jialin ZHU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Cell transplantation is a new technique to treat myocardial ischemic diseases in recent years. There are not many reports regarding smooth muscle cell(SMC) transplantation at moment.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the impact of autologous SMC transplantation on the survival and the restoration of cardiac function after myocardial infarct.

DESIGN:

An observatory comparative study based on experimental animals.

SETTING:

Institute of cardiothoracic surgery in a military medical university of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS The study was conducted in the Institute of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January 2003 to June 2003. Totally 24 male adult SD rats in cleanness grade with a body mass of(300 ± 20) g were randomly divided into two groups,i. e. ,transplant group and control group with 12 rats each. All rats were fed in clean environment.

METHODS:

Autologous SMC was separated and extracted from the ductus deferens of SD rats by enzymic digestion for culture and amplification in vitro. BrdU-labeled autologous SMC was directly injected into the scarring tissues of cardiac infarct area induced by the ligation of anterior descending branch of left coronary artery 2 weeks ago in rats of transplant group. DMEM culture medium of same volume was injected into the rats of control group. Cardiac function was evaluated by ultrasound examination before and 4 weeks after transplantation. The survival of the transplanted SMC and its effect of vasoformation in myocardial scarring tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining.soformation in myocardial scarring area after autologous SMC transplantation;after transplantation.

RESULTS:

Transplanted autologous SMC survived and formed muscle-like tissues in myocardial infarct area. Compared with control group, left ventricnlar end diastolic volume(LVEDV) of transplant group was significantly reduced( P < 0.01), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was significantly elevated( P < 0.01 ), and the vasoformation in myocardial scarring tissue was significant( P < 0.01 ).

CONCLUSION:

Autologous SMC transplantation can prevent ventricle enlargement after myocardial infarct, promote vasoformation in infarct area, and ameliorate cardiac function.