Distribution of bone marrow MSCs injected through subglossal vein into myocardial infarction model rats

AIM To study the distribution of MSCs injected intravenously and the feasibility of this approach used to repair the infracted heart. METHODS Bone marrow MSCs were injected into the subglossal vein of the SD rats 7 days after myocardial infarction was created and the organs such as the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and spleen were harvested at different times after transplantation. In order to assess the efficiency of cell transplantation by this approach, another 24 SD rats were given MSCs or medium and after 3 weeks and 6 weeks, the diameters and function were evaluated through transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS After injection through the subglossal vein, the MSCs passed through the capillary of the lung, and then distributed into the heart and non-targeted organ, such as the spleen, kidneys, lungs, but seldom in the liver. The structure of these organs remained normal. The cells migrating into myocardium had a tendency to the infracted area. The left ventricle function did not exacerbate after injection of MSCs compared with that in control group. CONCLUSION MSCs injected intravenously can distribute into myocardium, spleen, kidneys and lungs. The migration of injected cells delays the left ventricle remodeling after MI.