Cellular cardiomyoplasty in a transgenic mouse model

Background. Recent progress in the cardiotypic differentiation of embryonic and somatic stem cells opens novel prospects for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to develop a novel surgical approach that allows standardized cellular cardiomyoplasty in mouse with low-periopiarative mortality. Methods. Reproducible transmural lesions were generated by cryoinjury followed by intramural injection of embryonic cardiomyocytes using a newly designed holding device and vital dye staining. This approach was validated with a transgenic mouse model, in which the live reporter gene-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is under control of a cardiac-specific promoter. Results. The perioperative mortality was 10%. The engrafted EGFP-positive cardiomyocytes could be identified in a high percentage (72.2%, n=36) of operated animals. Conclusions. This novel approach enables reliable cellular replacement therapy in mouse and greatly facilitates the analysis of its molecular, cellular, and functional efficacy.