title: Ischemia-induced model of diastolic dysfunction in sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemic heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) is an increasingly recognized entity that carries similar morbidity and mortality than low ejection fraction heart failure. Animal models of diastolic dysfunction mimicking this condition are lacking and are essential for the development of therapeutic strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight Corriedale sheep, 18 ± 5 months old, were included in the study. Basal echocardiography and myocardial perfusion evaluation (SPECT) was performed. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was made by occlusion (90 min) and reperfusion of the second diagonal branch of the anterior descending coronary artery. Two months after AMI, echocardiography and SPECT evaluation were performed prior to sacrifice. Basal and 2 months echocardiography showed similar fractional shortening and ventricular dimensions in each animal except for an increase in left atrial diameter. No mitral regurgitation was evidenced. SPECT imaging and pathology confirmed infarction in the apical, apico-anterior, and apico-septal segments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A novel model of ischemia-induced diastolic dysfunction with preserved ventricular thickness and ejection fraction is described. This model opens the possibility of testing therapeutic options for patients with this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dayan
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sotelo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delfina
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suanes
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langhain
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Touriño
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benech
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D054144:Heart Failure, Diastolic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012756:Sheep; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
keywords: acute myocardial infarction; animal models of disease; diastolic dysfunction; echocardiography; single photon emission tomography; systolic dysfunction