title: Unravelling mechanisms underlying ischaemic arrhythmias - the importance of models.
abstract: A new model of regional ischaemia using blood-perfused isolated rat hearts is reported in this issue. This model has potential value in pharmacology to test the actions of drugs against the arrhythmias that arise early period (0-30 min) after induction of ischaemia. Unfortunately, the severity of arrhythmias in this new model is reduced, when compared to other models, in both the early and the late period (1-4 h) of coronary artery occlusion. This commentary compares the new model with previous models, and comments on the possible mechanisms of arrhythmias induced by ischaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. rsdaa@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Guppy
authors.forename: M J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications*