Heart-Derived Stem Cells in Miniature Swine with Coronary Microembolization: Novel Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Model to Assess the Efficacy of Cell-Based Therapy

Figure 7

The effects of CDCs on myocyte number and myocyte size. (a) Upper images represent PAS stained cardiac myocytes in LAD region from untreated and CDC treated animals. (b) Myocyte nuclear density was quantified as a cumulative index of myocyte regeneration following CDC infusion. In untreated animals, myocyte nuclear density was significantly reduced, reflecting infarct-related myocyte loss. After CDCs there was a significant increase in myocyte nuclear density in LAD and RCA remote regions. (c) The myocyte regeneration that resulted from CDCs led to a global reduction in myocyte diameter as compared to untreated controls. There was a significant reduction in myocyte size in both LAD and RCA remote regions. This supports the formation of new myocytes as a cause of the global functional improvement.

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