Background: Electronic pacemakers are the primary treatment of complete atrioventricular (AV) block, but their use is associated with many complications. The aim of the present study was to create an alternative treatment for these patients.
Materials and methods: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from the bone marrow of a 3-month-old dog were cultured in vitro. The MSCs were labeled with 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) before transplantation. We anastomosed the right auricle and right ventricle in 24 dogs, and transplanted labelled MSCs into the anastomotic area of 8 dog hearts. Using immunostaining we assessed survival and differentiation of the implanted cells at 8 weeks posttransplantation. Electrocardiography confirmed the secondary electrical conduction pathway.
Results: The ventricular current was captured by the electronic pacemaker in 21 dogs. Compared with the control group (surgery alone), pacemaker stimulus current was significantly less in the MSC group (surgery+MSCs).
Conclusions: Anastomosis of the right auricle and right ventricle assisted by MSCs may be a new treatment for patients with complete AV block in the future.
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.