Chronic heart failure model induced by coronary embolization in sheep.
OBJECTIVE
To create a model of chronic heart failure in a large animal.


METHODS
Heart failure was induced in sheep by single intracoronary injection of polymer macrobeads, which were administered into left main coronary artery (n=3) or selectively into left anterior descending (n=4) or left circumflex (n=5) coronary artery. The animals were followed by echocardigraphy for 20 weeks. Measurements comprised fractional area change (FAC), and diastolic ventricular area (EDVA) and regional wall-thickening fraction (WT%).


RESULTS
EDVA increased from 14.2+/-2.1 cm2 prior to embolization to 16.9+/-3.1 cm2 on day 1 (p<0.05), and remained significantly increased until completion of the follow-up period. FAC dropped from 47.9+/-4.6% at baseline to 29.3+/-4.4% on day 1 (p<0.001) and remained significantly depressed until 20 weeks later. In 9 selectively embolized animals WT% of the embolized area decreased from 33.8+/-8.0% at baseline to 5.3+/-2.6% on day 1 and remained significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple model of chronic heart failure was developed. It shows relatively high stability over time and may prove beneficial in experimental work on ventricular assist devices.
Zietkiewicz
M
M
Center for Experimental Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Catholic University Leuven, Belgium.
Perek
B
B
Meyns
B
B
Mesotten
L
L
Dispersyn
G
G
Nishimura
Y
Y
Flameng
W
W
D000818:Animals; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D012756:Sheep