Journal of Translational Medicine (Sep 2010)

Early combined treatment with sildenafil and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells preserves heart function in rat dilated cardiomyopathy

  • Fu Morgan,
  • Chua Sarah,
  • Tsai Tzu-Hsien,
  • Chang Li-Teh,
  • Kao Ying-Hsien,
  • Yen Chia-Hung,
  • Sun Cheuk-Kwan,
  • Leu Steve,
  • Lin Yu-Chun,
  • Ko Sheung-Fat,
  • Wu Chiung-Jen,
  • Lee Fan-Yen,
  • Yip Hon-Kan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-8-88
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 88

Abstract

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Abstract Background We investigated whether early combined autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC) and sildenafil therapy offers an additive benefit in preserving heart function in rat dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods Adult Lewis rats (n = 8 per group) were divided into group 1 (normal control), group 2 (saline-treated DCM rats), group 3 [2.0 × 106 ADMSC implanted into left ventricular (LV) myocardium of DCM rats], group 4 (DCM rats with sildenafil 30 mg/kg/day, orally), and group 5 (DCM rats with combined ADMSC-sildenafil). Treatment was started 1 week after DCM induction and the rats were sacrificed on day 90. Results The results showed that mitochondrial protein expressions of connexin43 and cytochrome-C were lowest in group 2, and lower in groups 3 and 4 than in group 5 (p Conclusion Early combined ADMSC/sildenafil is superior to either treatment alone in preserving LV function.