Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are a common cause of sudden death after myocardial infarction (MI). Therefore, developing new therapeutic methods for the prevention and treatment of VA is of prime importance. Methods: Human bone marrow derived CD271 + mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were tested for their antiarrhythmic effect. This was done through the development of a novel mouse model using an immunocompromised Rag2 −/− γc −/− mouse strain subjected to myocardial "infarction-reinfarction". The mice underwent a first ischemia-reperfusion through the left anterior descending (LAD) artery closure for 45 min with a subsequent second permanent LAD ligation after seven days from the first infarct. Results: This mouse model induced various types of VA detected with continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring via implanted telemetry device. The immediate intramyocardial delivery of CD271 + MSC after the first MI significantly reduced VA induced after the second MI. Conclusions: In addition to the clinical relevance, more closely reflecting patients who suffer from severe ischemic heart disease and related arrhythmias, our new mouse model bearing reinfarction warrants the time required for stem cell engraftment and for the first time enables us to analyze and verify significant antiarrhythmic effects of human CD271 + stem cells in vivo. make them very unlikely to produce hazardous action potentials or contribute to arrhythmias [10,11]. However, the availability of a realistic small animal model reflecting the situation in patients is of utmost importance. For testing the rhythmological behavior of human cells, Rag2 −/− γc −/− has been selected. These mice (strain C, 129S4-Rag2 tm1.1Flv Il2rg tm1.1Flv /J) have been derived from a V17 embryonic stem cell line (BALB/c × 129 heterozygote) targeted for the Rag2 and Il2rg genes and lack B, T, and natural killer (NK) cells [12]. They have a deletion of the common cytokine receptor γ chain (γc) gene, and thus reduced numbers of peripheral T and B lymphocytes, and absent natural killer cell (NK) activity. A genetic cross with a recombinase activating gene 2 (RAG2) deficient strain produced mice doubly homozygous for the γc and RAG2 null alleles (Rag2 −/− γc −/− ) with a stable phenotype characterized by the absence of all T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, and NK cell function [13]. This phenotype makes the completely a lymphoid strain useful for studies on human tissue xenotransplantation [14].As previously shown, stem cell antiarrhythmic effects appear after completion of an approximately one-week engraftment period [4]. The major objective of the present study was to develop a mouse model that enables us to reproduce VA several days after an initial MI. In vivo electrophysiological mouse models are well established: Previously, Berul et al. established an open chest epicardial study of conduction properties with the ability to induce second and third degree heart blocks, but no induction of tachyarrhythmias after programmed stimulation [15]. Hagendorff et al. used a rapid t...