Layers of the Cardiac Wall

Cell types Cardiomyocytes

Pacemaker cells

Cell Sources

• Stem cells– Embryonic– Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal– Cord-derived mesenchymal

• Primary cells (main successes so far1)– Chondrocytes (cartilage)– Skin cells– Heart cells

1. Howard, D. et. al. “Tissue engineering: strategies, stem cells and scaffolds,” J. Anat. Jul 2008; 213(1):66-72.

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

• Scaffold – an artificial structure capable of supporting 3 dimensional tissue formation (e.g. Collagen and some polyesters)

Purposes of Scaffolds– Allow Cell attachment and migration– Deliver and retain cells and biochemical factors– Enable diffusion of vital cell nutrients and

expressed products– Exert certain mechanical and biological influences

to modify the behavior of cell phase

Requirements of Scaffolds

• High porosity and adequate pore size for cell diffusion

• Biodegradability because scaffolds should be absorbed by the surrounding tissues

The study of the morphology, architecture, and composition of tissues

H I S T O L O G Y

IMMUNO HISTO CHEMISTRYThe process of using antibodies to stain/identifydifferent tissue components

HOW IT’S DONE

1. Fixing (kill in Paraformaldehyde)

2. Embedding (in paraffin wax)

3. Sectioning (slice it up thinly!)

4. Mount (with glass slide + coverslip)

5. Stain (with flourescence)

DAPI - nucleii

IMMUNO HISTO CHEMISTRY

Search for Specific Antigens with:

• 1. Specific Primary Antibodies

• 2. Secondary Antibodies with a fluorescent tag