The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on the blood flow and morphologic features of a latissimus dorsi cardiomyoplasty.

Previous studies designed to determine whether latissimus cardiomyoplasty could be used to revascularize ischemic myocardium showed that after operation the latissimus was ischemic and had severely deteriorated. This study was undertaken to determine whether basic fibroblast growth factor, a potent angiogenic peptide, would improve the vascularity of the latissimus and enhance collateral formation between the muscle of the cardiomyoplasty and ischemic myocardium. In goats, myocardial ischemia was induced with an ameroid constrictor and cardiomyoplasty performed.

Basic fibroblast growth factor identified in chronically stimulated cardiomyoplasties.

In the presence of myocardial ischemia, chronic electrical stimulation of a latissimus dorsi (LD) cardiomyoplasty enhances extramyocardial collateral blood flow. We postulated that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) may mediate extramyocardial collateral formation. To test this hypothesis, LDs from goats with cardiomyoplasties were probed for the presence of bFGF by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry.

Techniques to enhance extramyocardial collateral blood flow after a cardiomyoplasty.

Objective: Chronic stimulation of a cardiomyoplasty was combined with low-dose infusion of heparin into the arterial supply of the cardiomyoplasty in order to determine if latissimus-derived collateral blood flow could be further enhanced.

Summary Background Data: Acute and chronic stimulation of a latissimus dorsi cardiomyoplasty increased extramyocardial collateral blood flow to 35 +/- 9% and 27 +/- 5%, respectively, of normal myocardial blood flow.

Methods: A model of coronary artery disease was created with an ameroid constrictor in goats, and a cardiomyoplasty was performed.