Uterine myometrium as a cell patch as an alternative graft for transplantation to infarcted cardiac myocardium: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
Currently, only a small fraction of patients are able to receive reperfusion therapy for myocardial infarctions. We hypothesize that myometrial cell patch transplantation could be an alternative approach for the treatment of myocardial infarction.


METHODS
We performed a preliminary study to determine the feasibility of this novel therapeutic approach in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Six adult female New Zealand rabbits were used. Myocardial infarction was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation. A segment of uterus was removed via a laparotomy incision, and this uterine segment was transplanted as an autologous graft over the infarcted myocardium, which was then reinforced by greater omentum. Statistical methods and outcome measures: Hemodynamic measurements and histological studies.


RESULTS
All uterine myometrial patches survived in the test animals. Fluoroscopic hemodynamic measurements were made for ejection fractions at 8 weeks after the application of the uterine patch. Histological study demonstrated well-healed myometrial-myocardium junctions with minimum scar tissue. Angiogenesis occurred in the transplanted myometrium. Connexin 43 expression was demonstrated in the transplanted patches.


CONCLUSIONS
Our noncontrolled preliminary rabbit experiments indicate that patches of uterine myometrium reinforced by greater omentum can be used as autologous transplant therapy for infracted myocardium. This is an innovative technique that could lead to future treatment for individuals who may suffer from an infarcted myocardium and may not be eligible for traditional reperfusion therapy.
Taheri
S A
SA
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University at Buffalo and Kaleida Health, Buffalo, New York - USA. staheri268@aol.com
Yeh
J
J
Batt
R E
RE
Fang
Y
Y
Ashraf
H
H
Heffner
R
R
Nemes
B
B
Naughton
J
J
D000818:Animals; D018421:Cardiomyoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011817:Rabbits; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D019737:Transplants
D018031:Connexin 43