A team of scientists led by Lior Gepstein (Lior Gepstein) from the Israeli Technological Institute (Technion) showed that it is possible to make cardiac rhythms from stem cells.

In the experiment, stem cells from human embryos were chemically "provoked" into transformation into cardiomyocytes - cardiac muscle cells.

These cells gathered in small volume groups, which, as scientists noticed, spontaneously fought in the heart rhythm.

Cells from such hammering sites were implanted in the hearts of pigs, previously operated on, in order to create in the experimental animals an irregular, slow heart rhythm.

In 11 of 13 animals, several new cardiac cells were able to set the right rhythm to the whole heart.

In five cases, such biological pacemakers entered the work periodically, but in six cases - a new rhythm that was imposed by human cells was stable.

Further development of technology can lead to the replacement of electronic pacemakers in sick people by several cell-leaders, created from stem cells of embryos and inserted into the cardiac muscle.

Unlike devices, such pacemakers do not need power, they can not break down or respond with a malfunction to interference from a mobile phone.

A new technology could save many patients. The only thing that the very use of stem cells from embryos is surrounded by unresolved ethical issues.

Medicus. En.

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