[Establishment of a rabbit model of congestive heart failure].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility of establishing a rabbit model of congestive heart failure model by abdominal aortic coarctation combined with intravenous epinephrine infusion.


METHODS
Twenty rabbits were randomized into the study group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Congestive heart failure was induced in the study group by abdominal aortic coarctation combined with intravenous epinephrine infusion. The diameter of the abdominal aorta was reduced by 50%-60%, and epinephrine was infused at 2 weeks (5 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 60 min), 4 weeks (4 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 60 min) and 6 weeks (4 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 60 min) after the operation. The changes in the systolic and diastolic functions of the rabbits were assessed by echocardiography and catheterization during the progression of left hypertrophy.


RESULTS
The diameter of the abdominal aorta at the coarctation region was 4.87-/+0.53 mm before the operation, reduced to 2.26-/+0.47 mm after the operation. At 8 weeks after the operation, the hearts of the rabbits in the study group showed obvious abnormalities in echocardiography, while the hearts in the control group remained normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal aortic coarctation combined with intravenous epinephrine infusion allows rapid establishment of a reliable rabbit model of chronic congestive heart failure.
Zhang
Tao
T
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China. zhtony301@hotmail.com
Gao
Chang-qing
CQ
Li
Li-bing
LB
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001017:Aortic Coarctation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004837:Epinephrine; D006333:Heart Failure; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
D004837:Epinephrine