FIG. 7.

In vivo analysis of ECTs transplanted into a rat model of MI. Three ECT types (25%, 50%, or 70% cardiomyocytes) were transplanted by left thoracotomy into nude rats subjected to left coronary artery ligation 2 weeks before transplantation. Sham rats served as controls. (A) LVEF, LVESD, and LVEDD were serially assessed by transthoracic echocardiography, whereas distribution and survival of the grafted ECT (arrows) at 4 weeks were assessed by (B–I) immunohistochemistry for cTnT, HNA, connexin 43, αSMA, caldesmon, TE-7, vimentin, α-actinin, IB4, and human-specific lamin A/C. Inset images show magnified views. Arrow heads; (D) HNA-positive/αSMA-positive cells, (E) HNA-positive/caldesmon-positive cells, (F) Lamin-positive/TE-7-positive cells, (G) Lamin-positive/vimentin-positive cells, (H) Lamin-positive/α-actinin-positive cells, (I) Lamin-negative/IB4-positive cells. Scale bars: 50 μm (B, upper panels), 20 μm (B, bottom panels), and 10 μm (C–I). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. HNA, human nuclear antigen; LVEDD, left-ventricular end-diastolic dimensions; LVEF, left-ventricular ejection fraction; LVESD, left-ventricular end-systolic dimensions; MI, myocardial infarction. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea