Establishment of Myocardial Infarction Model in Rabbits with Dynamic Investigation of Cardiac Function and Pathological Changes / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To establish myocardial infarction model in rabbits and to evaluate cardiac function and pathological changes.Materials and Methods In 35 New Zealand white rabbits, the left anterior descending branch (LAD) of the coronary artery was ligated. The cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography, and the blood serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was examined preoperatively, on postoperative day 1, and in 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks for comparison. Pathological sections and HE staining were performed to observe pathological changes. Results The death rate was 28.6% (10/35). There was progressive increase in left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) at 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks (P<0.05). There was progressive decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening fraction (LVFS) at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks (P<0.05). The BNP level started increasing in 1 day, peaked in 1 week, then gradually decreased but remained higher than preoperative level in 8 weeks (P<0.01). Pathological section showed typical myocardial cell degeneration, necrosis, ifbrosis, calciifcation and scar formation. Conclusion This myocardial infarction model is satisfactory with signiifcant decrease of cardiac function and increase of BNP level.