Aim and Background. Cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) could be useful in restoring heart function after myocardial infarction or in heart failure. The hESCs can differentiate in vitro into spontaneously contracting cardiomyocytes and produce a model to investigate the early developmental stages of this system. After removing of cells from their feeder layer, hESCs create embryoid bodies (EB). Plating EB results in developing areas of beating cells.

Materials and Methods. The expression pattern of Alpha-cardiac actin and FLK1 (Vegfr-2/KDR) were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results. There was an enhanced expression of as Alpha-cardiac actin from day 10 in EB in suspension. The FLK1 (Vegfr-2/KDR) gene expression was first specified in 4-day-old EB and was significantly increased by day 10 & 14.

Conclusion. hESCs might be useful as an effective model system to understand the developmental processes and functioning of the human heart.