Transplantation of bone marrow-derived stem cells improves myocardial diastolic function: strain rate imaging in a model of hibernating myocardium.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of bone marrow-derived stem cells on myocardial compliance in a chronic ischemia model regarding strain rate (SR) parameters during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).


METHODS
Ameroid constrictors were placed around the circumflex arteries of 23 domestic pigs to induce chronic vessel occlusions. Fifteen pigs received transendocardially bone marrow derived stem cells, and 8 received placebo injections (a 0.9% solution of NaCl) into the ischemic region. At week 6, the animals were evaluated regarding myocardial fibrosis, neovascularization, apoptosis, and diastolic function during DSE.


RESULTS
Stem cell-injected hearts showed significantly less fibrosis, higher ejection fractions, significant neovascularization, and less ventricular dilatation than controls (P < .05). Strain rate imaging revealed improved diastolic function, with higher early diastolic SR values and lower E/Ea ratios compared with controls (P < .05). Early diastolic SR during DSE identifies viable myocardium (extent of fibrosis, r = 0.86, P = .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The endocardial injection of stem cells improves diastolic function in chronic ischemic myocardium and helps attenuate postinfarction remodeling.
Schneider
Carsten
C
Department of Cardiology, St Georg Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
Jaquet
Kai
K
Geidel
Stephan
S
Rau
Thomas
T
Malisius
Rainer
R
Boczor
Sigrid
S
Zienkiewicz
Tomacz
T
Kuck
Karl-Heinz
KH
Krause
Korff
K
D000818:Animals; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017682:Myocardial Stunning / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*