title: Induction of a chronic myocardial infarction in the laboratory animal - experimental model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemic heart disease is a major public health problem in western countries. Appropriate animal experimental models of chronic myocardial infarction is an essential first step in order to investigate and develop new therapeutic interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to find an optimal place for a coronary artery ligation to induce an optimal chronic myocardial infarction and also a new heart approach that will not require oro-tracheal intubation.
  
  
  METHODS
  To achieve these goals we used a group of rabbits and after induction of anesthesia and cardiac exposure by rib osteotomy (rib III, IV and V) at the costo-sternal junction level on the right side we performed three different left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation at different distances (5, 10 and 15 mm) in relation to the apex. Thirty days after the acute myocardial infarction, we correlated laboratory investigations (serology, ECG, cardiac ultrasound) with histopathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart approach achieved by rib osteotomy (rib III, IV and V) at the costo-sternal junction level on the right side, maintains the integrity of the ribcage, allowing it to take part in respiratory movements and the animal model does not need oro-tracheal intubation. Ligation of LAD at 15 mm from the apex was incompatible with life; ligation of LAD at 5 mm from the apex does not achieved transmural myocardial infarction and ligation of LAD at 10 mm from the apex achieved a transmural myocardial infarction of the left ventricle which also involved the distal part of the interventricular septum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ligation of LAD at 10 mm from the apex achieved a transmural myocardial infarction of the left ventricle, is in an easily accessible area from technical point of view, it is sufficiently expanded to induce hemodynamic effects that can be quantified with paraclinical examination and also it is compatible with the experimental animal life. If the heart is approached by rib III, IV and V osteotomy at the costo-sternal junction level on the right side combined with neuroleptic anaesthesia, the animal does not need assisted ventilation.
authors.affiliation: 2 Surgical Clinic, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ionel Ciprian
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Pop
authors.affiliation: 2 Surgical Clinic, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Nicolae-Ovidiu
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Grad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Cosmin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pestean
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taulescu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mircean
authors.affiliation: 2 Surgical Clinic, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ion-Aurel
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Mironiuc
keywords: acute myocardial infarction; chronic myocardial infarction; coronary artery ligation; left anterior descending (LAD); oro-tracheal intubation