Replacement of Dynamic Cultured Biograft Improves Damaged Heart Function^|^#8212;Comparative Study of Static Cultured Biografts^|^#8212;

Purpose To determine whether a dynamic cultured biograft can positively affect the function of the damaged heart. Methods We ligated the coronary artery (LAD) of rats to generate a model of myocardial infarction (MI) and then implanted them with the following grafts comprising vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) derived from the rat aorta and seeded onto biodegradable patches (patch replacement therapy; (PRTx)): control without PRTx, PRTx without seeded cells, PRTx with static cultured VSMCs, PRTx with dynamic cultured VSMCs and sham-operated. Cultured VSMCs were labeled with PKH26 for identification after implantation, and the centre of the MI site was excised and replaced with an implanted biograft. Cardiac performance was monitored for 12 weeks thereafter and followed by a histological study. Results Although the ejection fraction of the damaged heart improved in all groups that were transplanted with grafts, remodeling was prevented only in groups with a dynamic or static cultured patch. More cells were α-SMA-positive in the group with the dynamic, rather than the static cultured patch. Cells were positive for PKH26 in the biograft and in the infarcted myocardium. Conclusions Dynamic cultured biografts improved the function of the infarcted myocardium more than statically cultured biografts or those without cells.