Myocardial Infarction in Neonatal Mice, A Model of Cardiac Regeneration.
Myocardial infarction induced by coronary artery ligation has been used in many animal models as a tool to study the mechanisms of cardiac repair and regeneration, and to define new targets for therapeutics. For decades, models of complete heart regeneration existed in amphibians and fish, but a mammalian counterpart was not available. The recent discovery of a postnatal window during which mice possess regenerative capabilities has led to the establishment of a mammalian model of cardiac regeneration. A surgical model of mammalian cardiac regeneration in the neonatal mouse is presented herein. Briefly, postnatal day 1 (P1) mice are anesthetized by isoflurane and placed on an ice pad to induce hypothermia. After the chest is opened, and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is visualized, a suture is placed around the LAD to inflict myocardial ischemia in the left ventricle. The surgical procedure takes 10-15 min. Visualizing the coronary artery is crucial for accurate suture placement and reproducibility. Myocardial infarction and cardiac dysfunction are confirmed by triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and echocardiography, respectively. Complete regeneration 21 days post myocardial infarction is verified by histology. This protocol can be used to as a tool to elucidate mechanisms of mammalian cardiac regeneration after myocardial infarction.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University.
Jessica N
JN
Blom
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University.
Xiangru
X
Lu
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University.
Paul
P
Arnold
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University; qingping.feng@schulich.uwo.ca.
Qingping
Q
Feng
D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results