Abstract #0556

Dick A, Detsky J, Wright G, Foltz W, Yang Y, Graham J

Stem cells are increasingly being used to regenerate infarcted myocardium. MR imaging has demonstrated capabilities for delineating magnetically-labeled cells in vivo as focal hypointensities. We have developed a model enabling MRI tracking of intra-coronary delivered, magnetically and fluorescently labeled, mesenchymal stem cells in a porcine model of reperfused AMI. Immediately following cell delivery, using an FSPGR sequence, the cells magnetic label was observed predominantly in the infarct border rather than within the infarct itself. Post-mortem fluorescent imaging showed concordance of the cells fluorescent labels with the regions of hypointensity seen on MRI.