title: Improved myocardial performance in infarcted rat heart by co-injection of basic fibroblast growth factor with temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulates neoangiogenesis. The sustained release of bFGF by using biomaterials helped to enhance its angiogenic activity in vivo. In this study we investigated the effects of co-injection of bFGF with temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel on myocardial performance in a rat model of infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Myocardial infarction was induced in rats using coronary artery ligation. Temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel was prepared and injected intramyocardially into the left ventricular wall of rat infarction models alone or together with bFGF. Detailed histologic analysis and echocardiography were used to determine the structural and functional consequences 4 weeks after injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart function improved significantly in the chitosan+bFGF group compared with the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)+bFGF group with regard to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV fractional shortening (LVFS) 4 weeks after transplantation (p < 0.05, n = 8 per group). In addition, arteriole densities within the infarcted area improved significantly (p < 0.01) in the chitosan+bFGF group (259 +/- 22/mm(2)) compared with the PBS+bFGF group (95 +/- 18/mm(2); n = 8 per group) at 4 weeks after transplantation. Infarct size and fibrotic area decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the chitosan+bFGF group (39.64 +/- 1.75% and 25.09 +/- 3.31%, respectively) compared with the PBS+bFGF group (48.91 +/- 1.39% and 48.0 +/- 3.83%, respectively; n = 8 per group). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was noted between the PBS and PBS+bFGF groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-injection of bFGF with temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogels enhanced the effects of bFGF on arteriogenesis, ventricular remodeling and cardiac function. Our findings suggest a new approach to improve infarcted repairs in the prevention of adverse remodeling after myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Haibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuelian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yanmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yitong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qiuxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yanmeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cuimi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Changyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020100:Hydrogels; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013696:Temperature; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics; D020100:Hydrogels; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003094:Collagen; D048271:Chitosan