Stem Cell Research for Heart Muscle Repair and Heart Attack

• Cord stem cells have been used successfully in rat models of myocardial infarction.

• A variety of stem cells have been used for regenerating the heart.

• Mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitors from bone marrow have been successful in human studies on myocardial regeneration.

• The type of stem cell used depends on the type of injury to be corrected.

• Antioxidant protection is important to normal heart function.

• Erythropoietin improves cardiac function in rats after heart attack.