Objective: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recognized as potentialcandidates for cell therapy. In the present study, the ability of human bone marrow mesenchymalstem cells (hBMSCs) to differentiate into cells with characteristics of cardiomyocytesin vitro was investigated.Materials and Methods: hBMSCs cultured in enriched medium were treated with oxytocinand 5-azacytidin. The differentiation of hBMSCs into cells that expressed cardiacspecificgenes such as α3-actinin, alpha -

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... heavy chain (α-MHC), beta - myosinheavy chain (β-MHC), myosin light chain isoform 2a (MLC2a), myosin light chain isoform2v (MLC2v), artial natriuretic factor (ANF), GATA4 and oxytocin receptor (OTR) was investigatedby reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein expressionsof β-actinin and troponin I-C in the cells were analyzed through immunofluorescencestaining.Results: MSCs are spindle-shaped with irregular processes. Cells treated with oxytocinand 5-azacytidin connected with adjoining cells to form myotube-like structures. Expressionsof a number of cardiac-specific genes were detected by RT-PCR. Immunofluorescencestaining analysis showed that the differentiated cells stained positively for β-actininand troponin I-C protein.Conclusion: These results indicate that adult hBMSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocytesin vitro by treatment with oxytocin and 5-azacytidin, and can be considered as asource of cells for cellular cardiomyoplasty.