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The origin and role of cardiomyocyte stem cells in regenerating hearts of Notophthalmus viridescens
Author(s) -
Miller Dwayvania,
Piefer Andrew John,
Sessions Stanley
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.678.15
Subject(s) - regeneration (biology) , stem cell , notophthalmus viridescens , zebrafish , biology , ventricle , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , medicine , genetics , gene
One of the leading causes of death among humans is heart disease. Unfortunately, humans have only limited ability to repair or regenerate their heart tissue after it has been damaged. Interestingly, organisms such as zebrafish, and newts have the ability to regenerate severely damaged heart tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the origin and role of cardiomyocyte stem cells in the regeneration of heart tissue in N. viridescens (Red Spotted Newt). Regenerating newt hearts contain a blood clot that becomes populated by dividing cells. This clot may be the source of stem cells for new cardiomyocytes. This idea will be tested by conducting a two part study. The first part of the study will determine whether the clot formed after the partial amputation of the heart ventricle is a source of cardiomyocyte stem cells for newly regenerated heart tissue. BrdU – labeled blood cells from a donor newt will be transfused into a recipient newt. Approximately, 20% of this recipient newt's heart will be surgically removed and allowed to regenerate. The newly regenerated heart tissue will then be tested for BrdU‐labeled cardiomyocytes indicating that the clot is the source of stem cells. The second part of this study will use a northern blot to determine whether cells in the clot express pre‐cardiomyocyte transcriptional factors such as tbx20, nkx2.5, and gata4. The project is funded by the Departments of Chemistry and Biology.