猫基底动脉延髓支分布区的重叠特性

脑缺血性疾病是一种常见的严重威胁人类健康的疾病 ,有关脑缺血的研究是神经科学领域内的热点课题之一。目前这方面的研究主要集中在颈内动脉系统 ,而有关椎 -基底动脉系统缺血后对脑干影响的研究报道较少。本文以猫为实验对象 ,分别结扎基底动脉单侧各延髓分支 ,观察脑干缺血范围和神经元形态学变化 ;并以膈肌肌电和股动脉血压为指标 ,观察呼吸活动和动脉血压的变化 ,以期探讨基底动脉不同的延髓分支供血范围的特点及其与功能的关系。1　材料与方法(1)动物分组　健康成年猫 11只 ,体重 2 .0～ 3.0ｋｇ ,雌雄不限。 3%戊巴比妥钠 (40ｍｇ/ｋ…     

体温对沙鼠前脑缺血/再灌注Ca~(2 )/钙调素依赖性蛋白激酶Ⅱ活性变化的影响

目的和方法 :本文以蒙古沙土鼠双侧颈动脉夹闭 (BCAO)形成前脑缺血模型 ,观察不同体温 (3 6.5℃、3 0 .0℃、3 9.0℃ )对脑缺血 /再灌注海马、皮质、纹状体、小脑Ca2 /CaMPKⅡ活性变化的影响。结果 :①除小脑外 ,海马、皮质、纹状体Ca2 /CaMPKⅡ活性在缺血后均有不同程度下降 ,该下降对缺血过程中体温变化十分敏感 :如分别于 3 6.5℃、3 0 .0℃、3 9.0℃时同样缺血 10min ,海马酶活性分别为对照组的 3 2 .2 %、10 1.3 %、9.1% ;②持续一定时间的低体温再灌注可显著促进海马、皮质、纹状体该酶活性的恢复 :如 3 6.5℃和 3 0 .0℃再灌注相同时间后 ,海马酶活性分别为对照组的 5 1.3 %和 5 3 .2 % (4h ,P >0 .0 5 )、5 8.0 %和 68.9% (8h ,P <0 .0 5 )、67.4 %和 84 .1% (16h ,P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :低体温可显著保护脑缺血 /再灌注缺血敏感组织Ca2 /CaMPKⅡ活性 ,这可能与其保护缺血性脑损伤关系密切。     

阻断猫基底动脉引起的延髓缺血和呼吸血压效应的研究

目的 :通过结扎基底动脉主干不同节段观察脑干缺血范围和神经元形态学变化以及呼吸活动和动脉血压的变化 ,为进一步探讨脑干缺血影响呼吸和循环等功能活动的机制和防治措施提供依据。方法 :以猫为实验对象 ,结扎基底动脉主干不同节段 ,分析脑干缺血区血管密度和神经元形态学变化 ,以膈肌肌电和股动脉血压为指标 ,观察呼吸活动和血压的变化。结果 :结扎基底动脉可引起延髓血管密度减小 ,引起延髓缺血。结扎基底动脉不同节段引起的缺血范围有明显重叠 ,缺血区主要位于闩平面吻端的延髓。缺血区神经元胞体肿胀 ,尼氏染色着色变浅 ,尼氏体减少。动物的吸气时程 (TI)和呼气时程 (TE)缩短 ,呼吸频率 (RF)增快 ,平均动脉血压 (MBP)下降 ,均P <0 .0 5,呼吸幅度 (A)无明显变化。结论 :基底动脉不同节段对延髓的血液供应有明显重叠 ,延髓缺血可引起呼吸和血压改变 ,延髓缺血性神经元损伤是引起呼吸、血压改变的结构基础     

肠缺血再灌注时肠内给予不同营养物对肠粘膜ATP含量的影响

将SD大鼠分组 ,先制作空肠袋 ,分别向袋内注射不同营养物 :10mmol/L丙氨酸 ,10mmol/L葡萄糖 ,10mmol/L甘露醇或 5mmol/L丙氨酸 +5mmol/L葡萄糖的混合液 ,用动脉夹阻断肠系膜上动脉血流 6 0min后 ,再恢复灌流 6 0min。分别于阻断血流 6 0min和恢复灌注 6 0min测定肠粘膜ATP含量。研究结果显示 ,缺血再灌注能显著降低肠粘膜ATP含量 ,给予丙氨酸或葡萄糖 /丙氨酸混合液使肠粘膜ATP含量进一步降低 (P <0 .0 1) ,而给予葡萄糖能显著增加肠粘膜ATP含量 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :缺血再灌注过程中 ,肠内给予葡萄糖能改善肠粘膜ATP含量 ,对缺血再灌注损伤的肠道提供保护作用     

代谢型谷氨酸受体阻断剂α-methyl-(4-tetrazolyl-phenyl)glycine对大鼠海马脑缺血耐受诱导的影响

实验采用大鼠四血管闭塞全脑缺血模型,用硫堇染色法和胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫组化法,观察右侧脑室内注射Ⅱ型代谢型谷氨酸受体(metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3,mGluR2/3)阻断剂α-methyl-(4-tetrazolyl-phenyl)glycine(MTPG)对海马CAl区神经元缺血耐受(BIT)诱导的影响,以探讨mGluR2／3在BIT诱导中的作用。54只大鼠推动脉凝闭后分为5组：(1)假手术组(n＝8)：游离双侧颈总动脉,但不夹闭;(2)单纯缺血组(n＝8)：夹闭双侧颈总动脉8min;(3)缺血预处理组(n＝8)：夹闭双侧颈总动脉3min作为脑缺血预处理(CIP),再灌注24h后再行夹闭8min;(4)MTPG 缺血预处理组(n＝22)：CIP前20min右侧脑室注射MTPG,其余步骤同缺血预处理组;MTPG的剂量分别为0．4、0．2、0．04和0．008mg,以观察其剂量效应关系;(5)MTPG 单纯缺血组(n＝8)：右侧脑室注射MTPG0．2mg 24h后,夹闭双侧颈总动脉8min。所有动物均在手术后或末次缺血后7d处死,取材观察。结果如下：(1)与假手术组相比,单纯8min缺血组海马CAl区组织学分级升高、锥体神经元密度降低,GFAP阳性表达增加(P＜0．05);(2)缺血预处理组的组织学分级、神经元密度及GFAP表达与假手术组相似,未见单纯缺血组的上述变化,表明CIP可防止后续8min缺血造成的神经元损伤;(3)MTPG 缺血预处理组海马CAl区组织学分级明显增加、锥体神经元密度降低,并且GFAP表达也明显增加(P＜0．05),这种变化与MTPG的剂量呈明显正相关,表明CIP对神经元的保护作用可被MTPG阻断;(4)MTPG 单纯缺血组海马CAl区组织学分级和神经元密度以及GFAP的表达与单纯缺血组相似。上述结果提示,3minCIP可诱导BIT的形成,MTPG可阻断CIP诱导BIT的作用,表明mGluR2／3参与BIT的诱导。     

白噪声对听觉脑干电反应(ABR)和耳蜗电图(ECochG)的影响

本文通过20例听力正常人和10例听力正常豚鼠研究了白噪声对耳蜗电图(ECochG)和听觉脑干电反应(ABR)的干涉作用。实验结果表明,白噪声比短声(信号)的声强级低30dB(SL)以上时,ECochG和ABR的振幅仅轻微减小。白噪声与短声的声强级相等时,ECochG与ABR的振幅和出现率会明显受到干涉而减小,甚至完全消失。但是,此时的耳蜗微音器电位(CM)并未观察到有明显的变化。这意味着白噪声对ECochG和ABR的干涉作用主要与围绕毛细胞基底部的突触产生的抑制密切相关。由于白噪声对ABR各波的干涉有些差异,所以认为这种抑制,可能既包括脑中抑制也包括侧方抑制。     

成对短声不同间隔对单、双耳听觉脑干反应的影响——衍生听觉脑干反应方法的应用

采用具有不同间隔(0～32ms)的65dB nHL(正常听力水平)的成对短声刺激,记录20名正常人的单侧耳和两耳交替刺激的听觉脑干反应(ABR)。用计算机从成对短声反应中减去单一短声反应以提取衍生ABR。结果表明,单、双耳的衍生ABR V波振幅在成对短声间隔为0.2～1.5ms时,受到明显影响。单耳的减小54％～65％(P<0.01),两耳的减少46％～53％(P<0.01),但单、双耳的衍生ABR I波振幅未显示显著差异(P>0.05)。该结果说明,高位脑干通路在成对短声间隔为0.2～1.5ms时,不但对同侧耳的第2个短声反应能力降低,而且对来自对侧耳的第2个短声也如此。从而推断,在两耳交替刺激的耳间短声间隔小于2ms范围时,在下丘部位可能存在两耳交互作用。结果还提示,临床检查ABR时,采用的短声刺激间隔至少不应小于30ms。     

胶质细胞谷氨酸转运体-1反义寡核苷酸对脑缺血预处理神经保护效应的抑制作用

本研究应用胶质细胞谷氨酸转运体-1(glial glutamate transporter-1,GLT-1)的反义寡核苷酸(antisense oligo-deoxynucleotides,AS-ODNs)抑制Wistar大鼠GLT-1蛋白的表达,观察其对脑缺血预处理(cerebral ischemic preconditioning.CIP)增强脑缺血耐受作用的影响,探讨GLT-1在CIP诱导的脑缺血耐受中的作用.将凝闭双侧椎动脉的Wistar大鼠随机分为7组:(1)Sham组:只暴露双侧颈总动脉,不阻断血流;(2)CIP组:夹闭双侧颈总动脉3 min;(3)脑缺血打击组:夹闭双侧颈总动脉8 min;(4)CIP 脑缺血打击组:夹闭双侧颈总动脉3 min作为CIP,再灌注2 d后,夹闭双侧颈总动脉8min;(5)双蒸水组:于分离暴露双侧颈总动脉(但不夹闭)前12 h、后12 h及后36 h右侧脑室注射双蒸水,每次5 μL,其它同sham组;(6)AS-ODNs组:于分离暴露双侧颈总动脉(但不夹闭)前12 h、后12 h及后36 h右侧脑室注射GLT-1 AS-ODNs溶液,每次5 μL,其它同sham组,再根据AS-ODNs的剂量进一步分为9 nmol和18 nmol 2个亚组;(7)AS-ODNs CIP 脑缺血打击组:于CIP前12 h、后12 h及后36 h右侧脑室注射GLT-1 AS-ODNs溶液,每次5 μL,其它同CIP 脑缺血打击组,根据AS-ODNs的剂量进一步分为9 nmol和18 nmol 2个亚组.Western blot分析法观察GLT-1蛋白的表达,硫堇染色观察海马CA1区锥体神经元迟发性死亡(delayed neuronal death,DND)情况.Western blot分析显示,侧脑室注射GLT-1 AS-ODNs可剂量依赖性地抑制大鼠海马CA1区GLT-1蛋白表达.硫堇染色显示,sham组和CIP组海马CA1区未见明显的DND;脑缺血打击组海马CA1区有明显的DND:预先给予CIP可显著对抗脑缺血打击引起的DND,表明CIP可以诱导海马CA1区神经元产生缺血性耐受,对抗脑缺血打击引起的DND;而在GLT-1 AS-ODNs CIP 脑缺血打击组,侧脑室注射GLT-1 AS-ODNs后,大鼠海马CA1区出现了明显的DND,表明GLT-1 AS-ODNs通过抑制大鼠GLT-1蛋白表达从而减弱CIP对抗脑缺血打击的神经保护作用.以上结果进一步证实了GLT-1参与CIP诱导的脑缺血耐受.     

长爪沙鼠脑缺血后大脑皮质Parvalbumin(PV)的表达变化

目的:观察长爪沙鼠大鼠前脑短暂缺血后前额皮质Parvalbumin(PV)的表达变化,为进一步研究其功能及其对脑缺血损伤的治疗作用提供形态学依据。方法:24只健康雄性长爪鼠随机分为时照组(6只)和缺血组(18只),夹闭长爪沙鼠双测颈总动脉10min诱导前脑缺血后,动物分别存活1天、3天或7天。用免疫组化方法、阳性细胞计数和相对平均灰度值检测了前额皮质中PV的表达情况。结果:与正常组相比,各缺血组中前额皮质中PV表达均减少。缺血再灌1天时,PV表达最弱(P＜0．01);3天时PV表达开始恢复(P＜0．05);7天时PV表达进一步恢复,但仍低于正常组(P＞0．05)。结论:前脑短暂缺血后可造成长爪沙鼠前额皮质PV的表达在短时间内急剧下降;但随着缺血消失后时间的延长,机体可进行部分的自行修复。     

蒙古沙鼠脑缺血后大脑皮质Calretinin(CR)的表达变化

目的:观察蒙古沙鼠前脑短暂缺血后前额皮质Calretinin(CR)的表达变化,为进一步研究其功能及治疗提供形态学依据。方法:24只健康雄性长爪鼠随机分为正常组对照组(6只)和缺血组(18只),夹闭蒙古沙鼠双测颈总动脉10 min诱导前脑缺血后,动物分别存活1天、3天或7天。用免疫组织化学方法检测了前额皮质中CR的表达。结果:与正常组相比,各缺血组中前额皮质中CR表达均上调。缺血再灌1天时,CR表达最强(P＜0．01);3天时CR表达开始恢复(P＜0．05);7天时CR表达进一步恢复,但仍高于正常组(P＜0．01)。结论:前脑短暂缺血后可造成蒙古沙鼠前额皮质CR的表达在短时间内急剧上调;但随着时间的CR的表达会恢复正常。     

Angiology of the brain of the baboon Papio ursinus, the vervet monkey Cercopithecus pygerithrus, and the bushbaby Galago senegalensis

The investigation was undertaken to compare the blood supply and venous drainage of the brain of the baboon P. ursinus, the vervet monkey C. pygerithrus, and the bushbaby G. senegalensis with that of man, because these animals are extensively used as research models. The blood supply of the three primates was found to be similar in each case. Like man they have a complete circulus arteriosus; but they have a single anterior cerebral artery, whereas man has paired anterior cerebral arteries. The arterial supply to the cerebellum in the primates is similar to that in man, the main difference being a "common inferior cerebellar artery" which bifurcates to form the anterior inferior cerebellar and posterior inferior cerebellar arteries. In man, these arteries arise separately from the basilar artery and vertebral arteries, respectively. The dural venous drainage was also found to be similar in these primates but was far more extensive than in man. The primates have additional sinuses--the more important of these being the "basisphenoid sinus" and the petrosquamous sinus. The former drains the basilar sinus and is itself drained via the vertebral venous plexus and internal jugular vein. The latter drains via the petrosquamous foramen into the retromandibular vein. The petrosquamous sinus has a rostral extension which drains through the foramen ovale and two lateral and medial connecting sinuses which drain the cavernous and basilar sinuses, respectively. These sinuses are not found in man.     

The cerebral artery in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Cerebral artery structure has not been extensively studied in primates. The aim of this study was to examine the cerebrovascular anatomy of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), which are one of the most commonly used primates in medical research on human diseases, such as cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this study, we investigated the anatomy and diameter of cerebral arteries from 48 cynomolgus monkey brain specimens. We found three anatomical differences in the vascular structure of this species compared to that in humans. First, the distal anterior cerebral artery is single. Second, the pattern in which both the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery branch from the basilar artery is the most common. Third, the basilar artery has the largest diameter among the major arteries. We expect that this anatomical information will aid in furthering research on cerebrovascular disease using cynomolgus monkeys.     

Effects of interrupted and uninterrupted occlusion of the basilar artery on cerebral blood flow, and on neurological and histological outcome in rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Most neurosurgeons consider temporary vessel occlusion for aneurysmal clipping an effective technique that facilitates dissection between the aneurysm and the parent vessel. It is generally believed that repeated short periods of cerebral ischemia are safer for the brain than a single long episode. The aim of this study was to identify whether interrupted and uninterrupted vessel occlusion differs with regard to changes in brain tissue and cerebral hemodynamics after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Fifty Spraque Dawley rats (300-350 g) were placed under general anaesthesia and ventilated. The basilar artery was exposed through a transclival approach. Baseline local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) values was measured, and then the basilar artery was punctured, causing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Group I (n = 24) was subjected to 60 min of interrupted basilar artery occlusion, defined as 5 min of reperfusion after every 10 min of occlusion, group II (n = 26) 60 min of uninterrupted artery occlusion. Three days after completion of the experiment, each rat was neurologically evaluated and decapitated. Coronal brain slices were obtained and stained to assess infarct volume. Immediately after SAH, LCBF fell by 58% in group I, and by 52% in group II. In group I, each ischemic insult brought a similar reduction in LCBF, and after each release of the occlusion there was a rapid rise in flow. In group II, the LCBF values dropped initially and remained at low levels until the end of the study. The 2,3,5 triphenyltetrazolium chloride stained sections showed similar volumes of brainstem infarction in both groups (38.3 +/- 9.2 mm3 vs. 34.3 +/- 8.7 mm3, respectively; p > 0.05). The results suggest that there is no neuroprotective advantage to either interrupted or uninterrupted temporary blockage of blood flow during neurovascular procedures after SAH in the basilar artery region.     

强噪声暴露后听觉脑干电反应及皮层电反应的变化

为了观察噪声作用豚鼠后,在暂时性或移和永久性阈移期间,听觉末梢和听觉各级中枢电反庆的变化规律,我们进行了６２ｄ的测定。听神经电反应振幅减小２９％（Ｐ＜０．０５）,耳蜗核电反应振幅减小２８％（Ｐ＜０．０５）,上橄榄核电反应反而增加２１％（Ｐ＜０．０５）,中脑下丘的电反应振幅进而增大３７％（Ｐ＜０．０５）,听觉皮层电反应振幅却意外地增加１３１％（Ｐ＜０．００１）。这说明强噪声（１２５ｄＢ １５０ｍｉｎ     

Pronounced HR variability after exercise in inferior ischemia: evidence that the cardioinhibitory vagal reflex is invoked by exercise-induced inferior ischemia

Potent cardioinhibitory vagal reflex resulting in bradycardia and hypotension has been observed under particular conditions of transmural inferior ischemia and its reperfusion, such as those observed with acute infarction. However, whether exercise-induced ischemia with ST depressions that is subendocardial and that might be recurrently experienced in daily activities can evoke this reflex remains unknown. In patients with exercise-induced ST depressions due to either inferior [right coronary artery stenosis (RCA), n = 52] or anterior ischemia [left anterior descending artery stenosis (LAD), n = 51], we evaluated post exercise vagal activity (from 0 to 6 min) by the time constant of heart rate (HR) decay and HR variability by 30-s averages of the absolute values of successive RR interval differences (DeltaRR). Exercise parameters were similar between groups. The time constant was slightly but significantly shorter in RCA than LAD patients (79 +/- 24 vs. 93 +/- 29 s, P < 0.01). More significantly, DeltaRR early after exercise (0.5-2.5 min) was approximately twofold greater in RCA than LAD patients (from +76 to +118%, P < 0.001), indicating pronounced vagal activity stimulated by inferior ischemia. Revascularization prolonged the time constant (P < 0.05) and attenuated recovery DeltaRR in RCA patients (P < 0.05, n = 10) but did not change both parameters in LAD patients (n = 12). As well as acute inferior infarction, exercise-induced inferior subendocardial ischemia, which might recurrently occur in daily activities, activates the cardioinhibitory reflex. These new findings must be taken into account in interpreting vagal activity in patients with coronary artery disease.     

Gender differences in myogenic regulation along the vascular tree of the gerbil cochlea

Regulation of cochlear blood flow is critical for hearing due to its exquisite sensitivity to ischemia and oxidative stress. Many forms of hearing loss such as sensorineural hearing loss and presbyacusis may involve or be aggravated by blood flow disorders. Animal experiments and clinical outcomes further suggest that there is a gender preference in hearing loss, with males being more susceptible. Autoregulation of cochlear blood flow has been demonstrated in some animal models in vivo, suggesting that similar to the brain, blood vessels supplying the cochlea have the ability to control flow within normal limits, despite variations in systemic blood pressure. Here, we investigated myogenic regulation in the cochlear blood supply of the Mongolian gerbil, a widely used animal model in hearing research. The cochlear blood supply originates at the basilar artery, followed by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and inside the inner ear, by the spiral modiolar artery and the radiating arterioles that supply the capillary beds of the spiral ligament and stria vascularis. Arteries from male and female gerbils were isolated and pressurized using a concentric pipette system. Diameter changes in response to increasing luminal pressures were recorded by laser scanning microscopy. Our results show that cochlear vessels from male and female gerbils exhibit myogenic regulation but with important differences. Whereas in male gerbils, both spiral modiolar arteries and radiating arterioles exhibited pressure-dependent tone, in females, only radiating arterioles had this property. Male spiral modiolar arteries responded more to L-NNA than female spiral modiolar arteries, suggesting that NO-dependent mechanisms play a bigger role in the myogenic regulation of male than female gerbil cochlear vessels.     

Ischemic brain injury caused by interrupted versus uninterrupted occlusion in hypotensive rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage: neuroprotective effects of citicoline.

This study investigated the neuroprotection provided by cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (citicoline) during interrupted and uninterrupted occlusion of the basilar artery after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 121 hypotensive rats. Animals were anesthetized and the basilar artery was exposed through a transclival approach. Baseline local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) values were recorded, and then the basilar artery was punctured, causing SAH. Blood was drawn to induce hypotension [60-70 mmHg mean arterial blood pressure (MABP)]. Control rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 0.5 ml saline immediately after SAH before hypotension induction and after 60 min of occlusion. Experimental rats received 400-mg/kg citicoline i.p. at the same time points. Control group I and treatment group III were subjected to 60 min of interrupted occlusion (5 min of reperfusion after each 10 min of occlusion). Control group II and treatment group IV were subjected to 60 min of uninterrupted occlusion. MABP and LCBF were recorded every 5 minutes. Brain edema was evaluated in seven rats from each group at 24 hours after ischemic injury. At 3 days after occlusion, another set of 28 rats was killed and coronal brain slices were stained to assess infarct volume. The groups' physiological and edema findings were similar. In all groups, LCBF fell immediately after SAH and remained below baseline throughout the experiment. In the citicoline-treated rats, arterial pressure increased significantly after 30-40 min of occlusion, and brain slices showed significantly smaller infarct volumes compared to control slices (p < 0.05). Mortality was significantly lower in the citicoline-treated animals (p < 0.001). The results suggest that citicoline provides significant neuroprotection during cerebral ischemia, and that it significantly reduces mortality. Part of the neuroprotective effect may be mediated by recovery of arterial pressure.     

猫听觉脑干诱发电反应中P_(2a)和P_(2b)波的起源

在33例猫将普鲁卡因或海人酸微量注入耳蜗核(CN)和上橄榄复合体(SOC)内,观察ABR的相应改变,以分析P_(2a)和P_(2b)波的来源。猫P_(2a)波的出现率与电极导联有关,颅顶-颈后为90％,颅顶-乳突仅为18％。普普卡因注入CN后,同侧耳短声诱发的ABR仅保留P_1波,对侧耳的则无改变。海人酸注入CN后,P_1和P_(2a)存留,P_(2a)不减小反而增大。普鲁卡因注入双侧SOC,可使P_3、P_4和P_5消失。这些结果提示,P_(2a)波主要起源于CN区域内的第一级听觉传入神经元轴突并受第二级神经元负电位的影响,P_(2b)波主要起源于SOC以下的第二级听觉传入神经元,猫的P_(2a)和P_(2a)波与对侧脑干结构无关。     

Early time course of myocardial electrical impedance during acute coronary artery occlusion in pigs, dogs, and humans.

Changes in myocardial electrical impedance (MEI) and physiological end points have been correlated during acute ischemia. However, the importance of MEI's early time course is not clear. This study evaluates such significance, by comparing the temporal behavior of MEI during acute total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in anesthetized humans, dogs, and pigs. Here, interspecies differences in three MEI parameters (baseline, time to plateau onset, and plateau value normalized by baseline) were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and post hoc tests (P < 0.05). Noteworthy differences in the MEI time to plateau onset were observed: In dogs, MEI ischemic plateau was reached after 46.3 min (SD 12.9) min of occlusion, a significantly longer period compared with that of pigs and humans [4.7 (SD 1.2) and 4.1 min (SD 1.9), respectively]. However, no differences could be observed between both animal species regarding the normalized MEI ischemic plateau value (15.3% (SD 4.7) in pigs, vs. 19.6% (SD 2.6) in dogs). For all studied MEI parameters, only swine values resembled those of humans. The severity of myocardial supply ischemia, resulting from coronary artery occlusion, is known to be dependent on collateral flow. Thus, because dogs possess a well-developed collateral system (unlike humans or pigs), they have shown superior resistance to occlusion of a coronary artery. Here, the early MEI time course after left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, represented by the time required to reach ischemic plateau, was proven to reflect such interspecies differences.