Effects of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on post-infarction ventricular remodeling in rats

Objective To investigate the feasibility and efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on ventricular remodeling and heart function after myocardial infarction in rats. Methods MSCs were acquired from the bone marrow of adult rats. They were isolated, purified and cultured in ex vivo before transplantation.At 1 to 2 hours after left coronary artery ligation, the cultured cells, marked with BrdU, were directly injected into the border of cardiac infarction in rats. At 6 weeks after transplantation, the rat's heart function, ventricular remodeling and pathological Changes were measured by echocardiography, dissection,and immunohistochemistry,respectively. Results After transplantaed with MSCs LV end-diastolic diameter,horizontal circumference of mior axis and LV end-systolic diameter were shorter, LV walls was thickened, weight index was decreased, (P0.05), as compared with the control. MSCs transplantation prevented cardiac dilatation and reduced collagen content. The numbers of blood vessels and cardiomyocytes were increased at the margin of infarction site in the animals transplanted with MSCs. BrdU-labelled MSCs with oval nucleus were widely distributed. Conclusion MSCs could survive in host infarcted hearts. MSCs transplantation had benificial effects on remodeling processes and improved cardiac function,which was possibily related with the reduction of the amount of the collagen,and with myogenesis and angiogenesis.