Occlusion of the left coronary artery is performed to mimic myocardial infarction in humans that results from occlusion of arteriosclerotic plaques of coronary arteries. Using this model, scientists can get a better understanding of the functional, structural and molecular changes associated with clinical ischemic heart disease as well as investigate the cardio-protection of potential drug therapies. Following the occlusion, the artery is opened directly to the heart making the occlusion-induced MI model particularly useful for therapies that work directly on the area of occlusion.
Ischemia models for myocardial infarct
|
| Occlusion |
45 minute occlusion (IR injury) or permanent occlusion* |
| Study Length |
1-7 days |
| Species |
rat or pig |
| Readouts available |
Histology, CPK, troponin levels, ECG**, angiography** |
*permanent occlusion in rats only **ECG and angiography in pigs
Figure: Histology on four heart tissue samples from the vehicle treated group in the occlusion-induced ischemia reperfusion MI model in rats. Ischemia duration was 45 minutes and reperfusion was over 48 hours. Slides A-D: transverse section of the heart at 0.5x magnification. Slides E-H: 4x magnification of slides A-D showing the scarred myocardium.