Effect of endothelial progenitor cell transplantation on cardiac function in rabbits with myocardial infarction

AIM: To explore the effect of endothelial progenitor cell transplantation on cardiac function in rabbits with myocardial infarction. METHODS: Forty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: experiment group and control group. After two weeks, myocardial infarction was induced by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery and both groups received standard drug therapy. Four weeks after transplantation, changes in cardiac function were examined by echocardiography and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. RESULTS: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and sizes of LVEDD in post-transplantation group were not significantly different from those pre-transplantation and in control group. Plasma BNP level decreased significantly at 4 weeks after endothelial progenitor cell transplantation compared with pre-transplantation and in control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Endothelial progenitor cell transplantation improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction.