Spatial distribution of nerve sprouting after myocardial infarction in mice.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) elicits nerve sprouting.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of nerve sprouting and neurotrophic gene expression after MI.

Methods: We created MI in mice by coronary artery ligation.

Sympathetic nerve sprouting after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Background: Although many studies have documented sympathetic re-innervation in transplanted hearts (allografts) using chemical, imaging, and electrophysiologic methods, little histopathologic proof of this process exists.

Methods And Results: We used immunohistochemical techniques with antibodies to S-100 protein, to growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), and to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to detect nerves in the left ventricles in allografts from 29 consecutive recipients. Reasons for transplantation included ischemic heart disease (IHD, n=16), non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n=12), and both (n=1).

Mesenchymal stem cell injection induces cardiac nerve sprouting and increased tenascin expression in a Swine model of myocardial infarction.

Unlabelled: Stem Cell Induces Cardiac Nerve Sprouting.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising technique to improve cardiac function. Whether MSC can increase cardiac nerve density and contribute to the improved cardiac function is unclear.

Patterns of spiral tip motion in cardiac tissues.

In support of the spiral wave theory of reentry, simulation studies and animal models have been utilized to show various patterns of spiral wave tip motion such as meandering and drifting. However, the demonstration of these or any other patterns in cardiac tissues have been limited. Whether such patterns of spiral tip motion are commonly observed in fibrillating cardiac tissues is unknown, and whether such patterns form the basis of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation remain debatable.