Heparin and basic fibroblast growth factor are associated with preservation of latissimus cardiomyoplasties in goats: a retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
Chronic electrical stimulation of cardiomyoplasties often leads to atrophy and fibrosis of the skeletal muscle. In this retrospective study, we re-examined the data in our previous work, which suggested that muscle was preserved by treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).


METHODS
Histologic sections were reviewed for evidence of atrophy, and fibrosis from four groups of goats with latissimus dorsi cardiomyoplasty: (1) unstimulated; (2) 2-Hz stimulated x 6 weeks; (3) 2-Hz stimulated with heparin infusion (50 units/hour) x 6 weeks; and (4) 2-Hz stimulated with bFGF (80-micrograms bolus/week) x 6 weeks.


RESULTS
Muscle degeneration, as indicated by fat replacement of muscle fibers, was 56.95% +/- 9.16% (mean +/- S.E.) in the 2-Hz stimulated compared with 16.43% +/- 6.22% in unstimulated muscles. In 2-Hz = bFGF and 2 Hz-Heparin (Hep) groups, degeneration was 11.60% +/- 3.04% and 20.36% +/- 5.03%, respectively. bFGF treatment was associated with a greater latissimus blood flow than in the 2-Hz-untreated and 2 Hz-Hep groups (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
bFGF's protection against degeneration may have involved angiogenesis and myogenesis, whereas that of heparin appears to have involved only myogenesis. While the mechanism(s) of the effects of heparin and bFGF remain to be defined, we conclude that they may be a useful adjunct for cardiomyoplasty.
Bailey
W F
WF
Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Magno
M G
MG
Bauer
T L
TL
Mannion
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D001415:Back; D018421:Cardiomyoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006041:Goats; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D006493:Heparin