OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy of intravenous implanted bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPC) preconditioned with 17β-estradiol in ovariectomized mice model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSBM-EPC were cultured and identified from ovariectomized BALB/C mice tibia and femur. The ovariectomized BALB/C mice models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were established, and randomly divided into 17β-estradiol + BM-EPC group (n = 6), BM-EPC group (n = 6) and control group (n = 6). Three days after AMI, BM-EPC pretreated with or without 17β-estradiol was infused via tail vein. The equal volume of saline was infused in control group. Twenty-five days after infusion, left ventricular (LV) function and dimensions, capillary density and ratio of fibrosis area to LV area were measured.

RESULTSLV function and dimensions, capillary density and LV fibrosis were significantly improved in 17β-estradiol + BM-EPC group than in control group [(LVDs: (3.09 ± 0.05) mm vs. (3.27 ± 0.10)mm, P < 0.05; LVDd: (4.18 ± 0.07) mm vs. (4.31 ± 0.05) mm, P < 0.05; FS: (33.0 ± 3.8)% vs. (26.0 ± 3.2)%, P < 0.05; capillary density: (1428 ± 214)/mm² vs. (1070 ± 168)/mm², P < 0.05; ratio of fibrosis: (38.8 ± 4.9)% vs. (49.0 ± 4.6)%, P < 0.05]. However, Above mentioned parameters were similar between BM-EPC group and control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBM-EPC preconditioned with 17β-estradiol can enhance capillary density, decrease LV fibrosis and improve cardiac function in this mice model of AMI.