HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Rainer Leyh Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kofidis, T. Articles by Haverich, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kofidis, T. Articles by Haverich, A. Related Collections Cardiac - other

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;22:238-243
© 2002 Elsevier Science NL

A novel bioartificial myocardial tissue and its prospective use in cardiac surgery

Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany

Received 26 November 2001; received in revised form 13 February 2002; accepted 22 March 2002.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +49-511-532-6581; fax: +49-511-532-5404
e-mail: kofidis{at}thg.mh-hannover.de

Background: Congenital heart defects such as atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, double outlet ventricles and the hypoplastic left heart syndrome as well as ischemic heart disease are associated with aplastic, defective or necrotic myocardial structures. In many of these instances patch closure, reconstruction of the defect or revascularization is required. We have developed a contractile bioartificial myocardial tissue, which offers new perspectives for various reconstructive surgical interventions, including congenital heart surgery. Methods: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were seeded in vitro in a commercially available collagen scaffold. Histological examination and ultrastructural evaluation were performed. Protein and mRNA analysis were carried out by two-dimensional electrophoresis and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Force measurements of contractions from the spontaneously beating or the pharmacologically stimulated bioartificial myocardial patch were obtained. Results: A solid matrix of 20x15x2 mm with spontaneous contractions resulted 36 h after cardiomyocyte seeding. Histology showed a tight mesh of collagen fibrils. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and RT–PCR revealed cardiotypical proteins (actin, tropomyosin, creatine kinase, ventricular light chain) and mRNA (myosin heavy chain, Connexin 43). The elasticity curve during passive stretch was similar to that of myocardium. Contractile force increased after topical administration of Ca²⁺ and adrenaline. However, stretch led to the highest levels of contractile force. Conclusions: Our novel contractile bioartificial tissue can be engineered in vitro and may open novel avenues for myocardial tissue replacement in congenital and reconstructive heart surgery. From the current standpoint autologous or allogeneic cells would be preferred over xenogeneic sources.

Key Words: Tissue engineering • Congenital heart surgery • Artificial myocardial tissue

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Yang, R. Sodian, P. Fu, C. Luders, T. Lemke, J. Du, M. Hubler, Y. Weng, R. Meyer, and R. Hetzer In Vitro Fabrication of a Tissue Engineered Human Cardiovascular Patch for Future Use in Cardiovascular Surgery Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 2006; 81(1): 57 - 63. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]