title: Ultrastructural comparison of developing mouse embryonic stem cell- and in vivo-derived cardiomyocytes.
abstract: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are expected to become a powerful tool for future regenerative medicine and developmental biology due to their capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency. The present study involves characterization and particularly, the ultrastructure of ESC-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-CMs). Spontaneously differentiated murine (C57BL/6) ESC-CMs were cultured for 21 days. At different stages, growth characteristics of the CMs were assessed by immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, transmission electron microscopy, and by addition of chronotropic drugs. EB-derived spontaneously beating cells expressed markers characteristic of CMs including alpha-actinin, desmin, troponin I, sarcomeric myosin heavy chain (MHC), pan-cadherin, connexin 43, cardiac alpha-MHC, cardiac beta-MHC, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), and myosin light chain isoform-2V (MLC-2V) and responded to drugs in a maturation- and dose-dependent manner. At the ultrasructural level, maturation proceeded with increasing time in culture. In 7+21 days CMs, all sarcomeric components, such as Z-discs, A-, I- and H-bands as well as M-lines, T-tubules, intercalated discs, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum were present. Our data suggest that ESCs can differentiate into functional mature CMs in vitro. Furthermore, ESC-CMs may provide an ideal model for the study of cardiomyocytic development and may be useful for cell therapy of various cardiac diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cells, Royan Institute, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. baharvand50@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baharvand
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piryaei
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rohani
authors.forename: Adeleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taei
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosseini
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D015415:Biomarkers; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010656:Phenylephrine; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D002217:Carbachol; D011433:Propranolol; D004110:Diltiazem; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine