Human cardiac stem cells (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine)

Heart samples from patients undergoing cardiac surgery were excised, minced, and digested with type II collagenase (0.2%) and DNase I (0.01%) to obtain single-cell suspensions to generate cardiospheres. Cardiospheres were mechanically selected from the cultures and expanded in DMEM/F12 medium containing FBS (10%), penicillin and streptomycin (2%), and human recombinant bFGF (40ng/ml).