Perineural Migration of Stem Cells in the Model of Damaged Heart Nodes

Abstract

Unilateral vagotomy (n=15) with simultaneous injection of 10 thousand stem cells in 10µl of culture medium to intact vagus nerve (n=9) was performed on Wistar rats anesthetized with ketamine-xylazine-acepromazine. Migration of stem cells to atriums and ventricles was tracked by fluorescent markers. Also protective role of perineural injection of stem cells was established in relation to development of destructive processes in heart ganglions. Unilateral vagotomy and injection of stem cells to intact vagus nerve resulted in preservation of cell structure in sinoatrial ganglion and recovery of cardiac rhythm. It was assumed that technique of perineural migration of stem cells along vagus nerve fibers to heart is promising for prevention of arrhythmias and heart failure development in patients with impaired heart function.