Closed-chest experimental porcine model of acute myocardial infarction–reperfusion

• Published in: Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 301 - 306
• Main Authors: Pérez de Prado, Armando, Cuellas-Ramón, Carlos, Regueiro-Purriños, Marta, Gonzalo-Orden, J. Manuel, Pérez-Martínez, Claudia, Altónaga, José R., García-Iglesias, M. José, Orden-Recio, M. Asunción, García-Marín, Juan F., Fernández-Vázquez, Felipe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Cardiac catheterization; Coronary Angiography - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Feasibility Studies; Female; Male; Methods; Myocardial infarction; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - pathology; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - pathology; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - physiopathology; Reperfusion; Sus scrofa; Swine; Cardiac catheterization; Myocardial infarction; Animal models; Reperfusion; Swine; Methods
• ISSN: 1056-8719; 1873-488X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2009.05.007

Progress in cardiovascular regenerative medicine research requires the availability of appropriate experimental animal models that are as close to humans as feasible. Our objective was to assess the validity of a porcine endovascular model of myocardial infarction and reperfusion. Fifteen domestic pigs (Large White race) were anesthetized and pre-medicated with amiodarone. Endovascular fluoroscopy-guided coronary procedures were performed to occlude the mid-left anterior descending artery using a coronary angioplasty balloon. Occlusion was confirmed by angiography and electrocardiography. After 75 min the balloon catheter system was withdrawn and the presence of reperfusion flow was verified. The animals were sacrificed after 1 and 2 weeks of follow-up, the hearts were explanted, and the extent of myocardial infarction with respect to the left ventricle was quantified. Overall survival rate was 67%. Five animals died prematurely: 3 showing signs of heart failure, 1 had reperfusion failure (final TIMI flow grade 1) and 1 succumbed to acute stress. The most common adverse event was ventricular fibrillation (87% of the animals) and defibrillation was effective in all affected animals. The extent of myocardial infarct in the animals followed-up for 1 and 2 weeks was similar (20.4 ± 4.3% vs. 20.9 ± 2.8%, respectively; p = 0.8) but was significantly greater in the animals that died prematurely (29.5 ± 3.6%, p = 0.02). The endovascular porcine model we have explored constitutes a feasible and reproducible alternative for the evaluation of human myocardial infarction and reperfusion.