Background
Myocardial infarction has been considered as a major cause of death in humans.
Stem cells offer the potential to open a new frontier in medicine.
Aim of the work
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not selenium improves the stem cell
therapeutic effect on myocardial infarction.
Material and methods
Eighty rats were used in this study. Twenty rats were used for preparing mesenchymal
stem cells (MSCs) and the other 60 rats were divided into five groups. The control
group included 10 rats. The isoproterenol (ISO) group included 20 rats that were
injected (subcutaneously) with ISO daily for 2 days. The selenium group included
10 rats treated with ISO that received selenium daily for 1 week after 1 week from
the last dose of ISO. The stem cell group included 10 rats treated with ISO that
received MSCs (intravenously) after 1 week from the last dose of ISO. The stem cell
and selenium group included 10 rats treated with ISO and selenium as in group III
and injected with the MSCs (intravenously) after the last dose of selenium. Heart
samples were processed and examined using histological and immunohistochemical
techniques.
Results
The results revealed that the ISO group showed disorganized and separated muscle
fibers with cytoplasmic vacuolations, pyknosis of many nuclei, marked collagen
fiber accumulation, and weak Ki67 immune reactivity. The selenium group showed
cytoplasmic vacuolations and pyknosis of some nuclei, moderate collagen fiber
accumulation, and mild Ki67 immune reactivity. The stem cell group showed slightly
disorganized cardiac muscle fibers, with cytoplasmic vacuolations and pyknosis in a
few nuclei, separation of some fiber bundles, a significant decrease in collagen fiber
accumulation, and a significant increase in Ki67 compared with the ISO group. The
selenium and stem cell group showed histological architecture and ultrastructure
similar to the control group except for slight separation of the myofibril bundles.
Conclusion
MSCs can treat cardiac infarction, but selenium can give better results when
administered with stem cells. |
