Effect of exercise associated with stem cell transplantation on ventricular function in rats after acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the functional and anatomical-pathological effect of transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells associated to aquatic physical activity after myocardial infarction in rats.
METHODS: Twenty-one rats were induced by myocardial infarction, through left coronary artery ligation. After a week, the animals were subjected to echocardiography for evaluation of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF, %) and dyastolic and end systolic volume of the left ventricle (EDV, ESV, ml), randomized and the transplantation of mononuclear stem cells. The animals were divided into four groups: sedentary group without cells (n=5), sedentary with cells (n=5), trained without cells (n=5) and trained with cells (n=6). The physical training was started 30 days after infarction and held in swimming during 30 days. At the beginning and at the end of the physical training protocol were held assay of lactate. The animals have been subjected to new echocardiography after 60 days of myocardial infarction.
RESULTS: Two months after the transplant, were observed decrease in FE in the control group (35.2 to 23.54 P=0.022) and addition of LVEF and stabilization of ventricular remodeling in the group trained with cells (29.85 to 33.43% P=0.062 and 0.71 to 0.73 ml, P=0.776, respectively). Identified the reduction of collagen fibers, myocardial fibrosis regions in the group trained with and without cells.
CONCLUSION: The group trained with cells improves ventricular function compared to the control group, suggesting the benefit of associated cell therapy will physical activity.