Experimental studies on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in treating acute myocardial infarction

Objectives To study effect of exogenous mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) transplantation for acute myocardial infarction(AMI) on general state of health, heart function,sizes of infarction, neovascularization in rabbits. Methods AMI was created by ligating left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. MSCs isolated from bone marrow and labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) were injected into the infarcted myocardium. Weight and heart function were measured at pre-operation, 3nd, 6th week after operation. The hearts were harvested for detection. Results MSCs group took a favorable turn in general state of health and had a significantly incremental weight at 6 week after operation compared with AMI group (P 0.05). A more significant improvement of LVEF was observed in the MSCs group than in AMI the group at 3 weeks and 6 weeks after transplantation (P 0.05). Infarct size was significant smaller in the MSCs group than in the AMI group (P 0.05). The capillary density of MSCs group was significantly increased than that of AMI group (P 0.01). BrdU-positive cells and some immature cell were seen in the infarct myocardium in MSCs group. Conclusions Exogenous MSCs transplantation for myocardial infarction can improve general state of health and heart function and gain weight in rabbits.