Characterization of contracting cardiomyocyte colonies in the primary culture of neonatal rat myocardial cells: a model of in vitro cardiomyogenesis.

ABSTRACT: The unmet clinical need for myocardial repair after irreversible ischemic injury requires a better understanding of the biological properties of cardiac stem cells (CSCs). Using a primary culture of neonatal rat myocardial cells, we describe the formation and maturation of contracting cardiomyocyte colonies stemming from c-kit(+), Sca(+), or Isl1(+) CSCs, which occurs in parallel to the hypertrophy of the major cardiac myocyte population. The contracting cardiomyocyte colonies (~1-2 colonies per 1 × 10(5) of myocardial cells) were identified starting from eighth day of culturing. At first, spontaneous weak, asynchronous, and arrhythmic contractions of the colonies at a rate of 2-3 beats/min were registered. Over time, the contractions of the colonies became more synchronous and frequent, w

SUBMITTER: Belostotskaya GB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3984314 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature