title: Rat Models of Ventricular Fibrillation Following Acute Myocardial Infarction.
abstract: A number of animal models have been designed in order to unravel the underlying mechanisms of acute ischemia-induced arrhythmias and to test compounds and interventions for antiarrhythmic therapy. This is important as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) continues to be the major cause of sudden cardiac death, and we are yet to discover safe and effective treatments of the lethal arrhythmias occurring in the acute setting. Animal models therefore continue to be relevant for our understanding and treatment of acute ischemic arrhythmias. This review discusses the applicability of the rat as a model for ventricular arrhythmias occurring during the acute phase of AMI. It provides a description of models developed, advantages and disadvantages of rats, as well as an overview of the most important interventions investigated and the relevance for human pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hundahl
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Cardiology, Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tfelt-Hansen
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jespersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
keywords: myocardial infarction; rat models; sudden cardiac death; ventricular arrhythmias