In vitro induction of rat meseachymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes

AIM To further substantiate the multipotentiality of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs),we have MSCs induced into cardiomyocytes by 5 Aza 2 deoxycytidine (5 Aza cdR) in vitro. METHODS Rat MSCs were isolated and cultured, then induced by 5 Aza cdR for 24 h. After cultured for additional 4 weeks, MSCs were identified by means of transmission electron microscopy technique and immunochemistrytechnique. RESULTS Some of the MSCs were positive expression of α Actin, Troponin T. Electron microscopy revealed typical striation, centrally positioned neuclei, Rich glycogen granules and a number of mitochondria. CONCLUSION MSCs are mutipotential stem cells which exit in the bone marrow, and they can be induced into cardiomyocytes by 5 Aza cdR in vitro .