Protective effect of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor against chronic myocardial ischemia in rabbits

Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on a rabbit model of chronic myocardial ischemia. Methods: Myocardial ischemia models were created by partial ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in Japanese white male rabbits. Rabbits were subcutaneously injected with G-CSF (G-CSF group) or saline (control group) for 6 days after myocardial ischemia. The percentage of CD34-positive cells in the peripheral blood was evaluated by flow cytometry, and CD34-positive cells homing and vWF expression in the ischemic myocardium were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Rabbits in G-CSF group had a higher survival rate than those in control group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry of the ischemic myocardium showed that compared with control group, G-CSF group had increased homing of CD34-positive cells on day 7 post-surgery, and more vessels on day 28 post-surgery by anti-von Willebrand factor staining. In addition, we observed an increase in the percentage of CD34-positive cells in the peripheral blood in G-CSF group. Conclusion: G-CSF produces an obvious protective effect against chronic myocardial ischemia in rabbits by increasing stem cell mobilization, homing to ischemic myocardium and accelerating neovascularization.