Abstract
Intramuscular myoblast transplantation in humans and nonhuman primates requires precise repetitive cell injections very close to each other. Performed with syringes operated manually throughout large regions, this procedure takes a lot of time, becoming tiring and thus imprecise. We tested two repetitive dispensers with Hamilton syringes as cell injection devices to facilitate this procedure. Monkeys received intramuscular allotransplantations of β-galactosidase-labeled myoblasts, using either a monosyringe or a multisyringe repeating dispenser. The monosyringe repeating dispenser allowed performing cell injections faster and easier than with a manually operated syringe. The multisyringe dispenser accelerated the procedure still more, but it was not ergonomic. Biopsies of the myoblast-injected sites 1 month later showed abundant β-galactosidase-positive myofibers, with the same density and morphological pattern observed following myoblast transplantation with a syringe operated manually. We recommend the monosyringe repeating dispenser for myoblast transplantation in skeletal muscles and maybe in the heart.