Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Transfection of cardiomyocytes is better achieved using adeno-associated virus serotype 9; adeno-associated virus serotype 9 is an ideal carrier for gene therapy research on heart disease at present.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 transfection of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and to assess its toxicity on neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
METHODS: The primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and cultured. Based on adding adeno-associated virus serotype 9 carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein or not, the myocardiocytes were divided into three groups: control group, non transfection group and transfection group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in beat frequency and percentage of pulsating cells among control group, non transfection group and transfection group in the 1st week (P > 0.05). However, the beat frequency and percentage of pulsating cells in control group was larger than that in the transfection group (P < 0.05). There still was no significant difference in beat frequency and percentage of pulsating cells among the three groups in the 3rd week (P > 0.05). Cells in the transfection group began to express myocardial cells in 24 hour after transfection and reached the maximum fluorescence intensity on the 4th to the 6th days. The reduction ratios of three groups were close to 1.0 at different times within 72 hours. These findings indicate that adeno-associated virus serotype 9 can be effectively transfected into neonatal rat cardiomyocytes without significant toxicity.