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.
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