Tissue Engineering of a Differentiated Cardiac Muscle Construct

• DOI: 10.1161/hh0202.103644
• Publication Date: 2002-07-28T23:16:47Z
• Authors: W.-H. Zimmermann; K. Schneiderbanger; P. Schubert; M. Didié; F. Münzel; J.F. Heubach; S. Kostin; W.L. Neuhuber; T. Eschenhagen
• Keywords: Cardiac muscle

Cardiac tissue engineering is an emerging field. The suitability of engineered heart (EHT) for both in vitro and vivo applications will depend on the degree syncytoid formation cardiac myocyte differentiation vitro, contractile function, electrophysiological properties. Here, we demonstrate that myocytes from neonatal rats, when mixed with collagen I matrix factors, cast circular molds, subjected to phasic mechanical stretch, reconstitute ring-shaped EHTs display important hallmarks differentiated myocardium. Comparative histological analysis native newborn, 6-day-old, adult rats revealed cells intensively interconnected, longitudinally oriented, muscle bundles morphological features resembling rather than immature tissue. Confocal electron microscopy demonstrated characteristic myocardium; some these are absent newborn rats: (1) highly organized sarcomeres registry; (2) adherens junctions, gap desmosomes; (3) a well-developed T-tubular system dyad sarcoplasmic reticulum; (4) basement membrane surrounding myocytes. Accordingly, displayed characteristics myocardium high ratio twitch (0.4 0.8 mN) resting tension (0.1 0.3 strong β-adrenergic inotropic response. Action potential recordings stable potentials −66 −78 mV, fast upstroke kinetics, prominent plateau phase. data indicate represent constructs, making promising material studies function replacement therapy.