title: [Establishment of a rabbit model of congestive heart failure].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China. zhtony301@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chang-qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Li-bing
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001017:Aortic Coarctation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004837:Epinephrine; D006333:Heart Failure; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004837:Epinephrine