2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The regenerative potential of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) for ischemic heart disease has been demonstrated in mice, rats, pigs, and a recently-completed clinical trial. The regenerative potential of CDCs from dog hearts have yet to be tested. Here we show that canine CDCs can be produced from adult dog hearts. These cells display similar phenotypes in comparison to previously studied CDCs derived from rodents and human beings. Canine CDCs can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, conditioned media from canine CDCs promote angiogenesis but inhibit cardiomyocyte death. In a doxorubicin-induced mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy, intravenous infusion of canine CDCs improves cardiac function and decreases cardiac fibrosis. Histology revealed that injected canine CDCs engraft in the mouse heart and increase capillary density. Out study demonstrates the regenerative potential of canine CDCs in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response which occurs during an infection, and myocardial dysfunction is one of its most important features. Although the cardiovascular alterations in human patients with sepsis being studied for over 50 years, data from small animals are minimal. Thus, the aim of this study was to correlate serum concentrations of IL-1b, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-a and C-reactive protein with echocardiographic parameters in bitches with sepsis due to cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra complex.