冠脉结扎和介入两种方法制备犬心肌梗死模型的比较

目的观察开胸结扎冠状动脉与闭胸明胶海绵栓塞法制备急性心肌梗死（AMI）动物模型的特点。方法分别经开胸结扎犬冠状动脉左前降支主干及闭胸冠脉栓塞的方法阻断冠脉血流;采用单级肢体导联和胸导联方式,在阻断前后监测心电图波形变化;造模72h后取心肌组织行病理切片染色。结果经心电图和病理验证,两种方法均可成功制备犬心梗模型,开胸冠脉结扎犬死亡率较高,而冠脉栓塞成活率高。结论相较开胸冠脉结扎法,闭胸栓塞法制备心梗模型对动物损伤小,成活率高,具推广价值。     

心导管介入冠状动脉封堵兔急性心肌梗死模型的建立

目的应用心导管介入方法封堵冠状动脉制备兔急性心肌梗死模型。方法选择雄性新西兰兔,先行冠状动脉造影,利用导引钢丝将微导管置于左前降支远端,将高分子栓塞剂与碘油混合配制成封闭胶,经微导管注入血管,造成急性心肌梗死。术前、术中和术后l周记录心电图变化。实验终点切取心肌组织标本分别行苏木素一伊红（H．E）染色、氯化硝基四氮唑蓝（NBT）染色、免疫组化染色。结果造模动物20只,存活16只。冠脉造影显示封闭胶持续滞留于左前降支远端,提示血管完全堵塞。心电图提示存在动态变化,ST段抬高,病理性Q波逐渐形成。心脏大体观测提示左心室前侧壁呈灰白色为梗死区。E染色提示梗死区局部纤维组织增生、疤痕形成、钙盐沉积,缺血区肌束变性、炎症细胞浸润,符合典型心肌梗死的病理变化。NBT染色后测定梗死面积为28．32％±5．21％。免疫组化染色提示缺血区CD34阳性面积和血管新生密度明显高于梗死区及正常组织区（P〈0．05）。结论通过心导管介入方法制备兔急性心肌梗死模型成功,避免了开胸损伤对实验结果的影响,更符合临床急性心肌梗死的病理特点。     

Heart rate recovery after exercise: a predictor of ventricular fibrillation susceptibility after myocardial infarction

Heart rate recovery after exercise, thought to be related to cardiac parasympathetic tone, has been shown to be a prognostic tool for all-cause mortality. However, the relationship between this variable and confirmed susceptibility to ventricular fibrillation (VF) has not been established. Therefore, myocardial ischemia was induced with a 2-min occlusion of the left circumflex artery during the last minute of exercise in mongrel dogs with myocardial infarction (n = 105 dogs). VF was induced in 66 animals (susceptible), whereas the remaining 39 dogs had no arrhythmias (resistant). On a previous day, ECG was recorded and a time-series analysis of heart rate variability was measured 30, 60, and 120 s after submaximal exercise (treadmill running). The heart rate recovery was significantly greater in resistant dogs than in susceptible dogs at all three times, with the most dramatic difference at the 30-s mark (change from maximum: 48.1 +/- 3.6 beats/min, resistant dogs; 31.0 +/- 2.2 beats/min, susceptible dogs). Correspondingly, indexes of parasympathetic tone increased to a significantly greater extent in resistant dogs at 30 and 60 s after exercise. These differences were eliminated by atropine pretreatment. When considered together, these data suggest that resistant animals exhibit a more rapid recovery of vagal activity after exercise than those susceptible to VF. As such, postexercise heart rate recovery may help identify patients with a high risk for VF following myocardial infarction.     

Functional integrity of intrinsic cardiac nerves located over an acute transmural myocardial infarction

Acute transmural myocardial infarction has been reported to functionally denervate the normal myocardium distal to the infarcted zone by interrupting neurotransmission in axons coursing in the subepicardial region of the myocardial necrosis. To directly investigate the viability of such neurotransmission, the effects of acute transmural myocardial infarction on conduction in the intrinsic cardiac nerves overlying and distal to an experimentally induced acute transmural myocardial infarction were studied. In eight dogs, during control states electrical stimulation of the epicardium adjacent to a coronary artery produced compound action potentials in the more cranially located cardiopulmonary nerves. Thereafter, in four dogs an acute transmural myocardial infarction was produced by injecting rapidly hardening latex into a major diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Epicardial stimulation over the infarct, as well as proximal or distal to it, produced compound action potentials that conducted at normal velocities for at least 12 h postinfarction. The transmural extent of the infarct was verified with tetrazolium blue staining at the end of the experiment. In the other four dogs, compound action potentials were generated in cardiopulmonary nerves as described above and then ventricular fibrillation was produced to assess the effects of global anoxia on the function of axons coursing in cardiac nerves. Following the onset of ventricular fibrillation, compound action potentials were generated in these nerves in C fibers for up to 2 h, in B fibers for up to 4 h, and in A fibers for at least 12 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Plasma endothelin levels during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Endothelin, an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictive peptide, has a strong potency of coronary artery constriction. However, the role of endogeneous endothelin under pathophysiological conditions has not yet been known. In this study, we examined plasma endothelin concentration in dogs with myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Anesthetized open-chest dogs underwent either 45 minutes occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 3 hours reperfusion, or 4-10 hours of continuous occlusion. Plasma concentration of endothelin from the central vein was measured by the highly sensitive enzyme-immunoassay. Plasma endothelin concentration increased 2.2-fold with the peak level at 60 minutes after release of the ligated artery, but occlusion per se caused no remarkable change. These data suggest that reperfusion of the occluded artery might be needed to increase the plasma concentration of endothelin in case of myocardial infarction.     

Myocardial ischaemia following electrical stimulation of the left circumflex coronary artery in sheep: a role for thromboxane A2?

The electrical stimulation model of thrombus formation was tested on rabbit carotid artery and adapted to sheep left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA). LCCA blood flow, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and ECG were monitored continuously and arterial and coronary venous blood samples were taken for radioimmunoassay of thromboxane B2. Stimulation of the LCCA mimicked acute myocardial infarction; reduction in LCCA blood flow preceded a fall in MAP and appearance of ECG abnormalities. Thromboxane B2 levels rose by 126% 35 min after stimulation. These findings support the proposal by other authors that thromboxane plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction.     

Effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on contractile function of hearts isolated from sedentary and trained rats

Moderate physical training induced a decrease in arterial blood pressure in fish oil-fed rats as compared to sunflower seed oil-fed rats. The purpose of this study was to determine if these changes were due to modifications of the left ventricular function of the heart. Forty rats were fed a semi-purified diet containing either 10% sunflower seed oil or 10% fish oil (EPAX 3000TG, Pronova). Each dietary group was assigned to two sub-groups, one being constituted by sedentary animals and the other by trained animals. Training was achieved by daily running for 60 minutes at moderate intensity for three weeks. At the end of the training period, the animals were sacrificed and their hearts were immediately perfused according to the working mode. The phospholipid fatty acid composition and parameters of the left ventricular function were determined. Feeding fish oil markedly reduced the proportion of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 18:2 n-6, 20:4 n-6, 22:4 n-6 and 22:5 n-6) in cardiac phospholipids. The n-6 PUFA were replaced by n-3 PUFA (mainly docosahexaenoic acid). In sedentary animals, the fluid dynamic (aortic and coronary flow, cardiac output) was not modified by the diet. The heart rate was reduced (-10%) in n-3 PUFA-rich hearts. Physical training did not markedly alter the polyunsaturated fatty acid profile of cardiac phospholipids. Conversely, it reduced the heart rate, aortic flow and cardiac output (-11, -21 and -14%, respectively) at a similar extent in the two dietary groups. In a second set of experiments, the training period was repeated in animals fed a commercially available diet (A103, UAR) which simultaneously provided n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. In these dietary conditions, neither the aortic flow nor the heart rate was decreased by physical exercise. These results suggest that both n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the diet are necessary to ensure a good cardiac adaptation to moderate physical training. Furthermore, the fish oil-induced decrease in arterial blood pressure in trained animals was not related to changes in cardiac contractility, but to a decrease in vascular resistances. Moderate physical training + dietary n-3 PUFA might be used to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.     

The effects of sympathetic stimulation and adenosine on coronary circulation and heart function in diabetes mellitus

The aim of the experiment was to clarify whether the altered coronary reactivity in diabetes mellitus might be caused by a general modification of the sympathetic responses. Six of 12 young mongrel dogs of both sexes were made diabetic with alloxan (560 mmol/kg). This amount of alloxan induced a clinically manifest diabetes, however the animals failed to develop ketosis. The remaining six dogs served as controls. The haemodynamic investigation was performed three months after the induction of diabetes. Under pentobarbital anaesthesia (133 mmol/kg) mean arterial blood pressure, blood flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery, myocardial contractile force of left ventricular wall and heart rate were recorded continuously and the conductivity of coronary arterial bed was calculated during electrical stimulation ( 8V , 1-2-4-8-20 s-1) of the cardiac plexus or during the intracoronary infusion of adenosine (30-60-120-240-480 nmol/kg/min). In alloxan-diabetic dogs electrical stimulation evoked vasoconstriction in the coronary arterial bed, while vasodilation was observed in metabolically healthy animals. The vasodilator effect of adenosine was significantly smaller in diabetic than in control dogs. On the other hand there were no differences either in the alterations of heart rate caused by adenosine or in those of myocardial contractile force induced by adenosine or electric stimulation between the two groups. It is concluded that general alteration of sympathetic responses is not, but rather a modified relation of the receptors to the vessel wall might be responsible for the altered vascular responses in diabetes.     

Proteasome inhibition 1 h following ischemia protects GRK2 and prevents malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and SCD in a model of myocardial infarction

Arrhythmia-prone epicardial border zone (EBZ) tissues demonstrate decreased G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) activity and increased sensitivity to isoproterenol 6-24 h after coronary artery ligation in the dog. We previously demonstrated that the ischemia-mediated decrease in GRK2 in cardiac ischemic tissue was largely blocked by proteasome blockade initiated 1 h before the onset of ischemia, and this was associated with significant cardioprotection against malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. For application to clinical circumstances, it is desirable to determine whether a clinical window exists following the onset of ischemia for such a protective effect. The treatment of six dogs with the selective proteasome inhibitor bortezomib 1 h after the surgical induction of left coronary artery ischemia provided 80% (EBZ) and 42% (infarct) protection (by immunoblot) against the loss of GRK2 at 24 h. There was no significant increase of heat shock protein 70(72) in the EBZ of bortezomib-treated animals compared with control. There was a striking absence of rapid (>300 beats/min) and very rapid (>360 beats/min) ventricular triplets that is highly predictive of sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) during electrocardiogram monitoring of the first 24 h in the bortezomib-treated animals in contrast with nontreated infarcted animals. There were no SCDs in the 6 treated animals (0%) and five SCDs in the 14 control animals (36%). Assay of whole blood proteasome activity demonstrated the expected decrease over the 24-h observation period. These data support the concept that proteasome inhibition within a window of time following myocardial infarction may be of use in suppressing malignant tachyarrhythmias and SCD.     

Diazepam administered prior to coronary artery occlusion increases latency to ventricular fibrillation

Few studies have addressed the antiarrhythmic potential of pretreatment with diazepam in acute myocardial infarction. Thus, the effect of diazepam pretreatment prior to coronary artery occlusion was examined in conscious pigs. Animals were instrumented with aortic catheters to measure arterial pressure, a pulmonary artery catheter for drug administration, and a snare around the left anterior descending coronary artery for permanent occlusion one week later. Diazepam (1 mg/kg iv bolus) or vehicle was administered 10 minutes prior to occlusion. Eight of 14 animals receiving diazepam (57%) and 13 of 22 receiving vehicle animals (59%) developed ventricular fibrillation following coronary occlusion. However, the latency to ventricular fibrillation was significantly shorter (7 +/- 1 min) in animals receiving vehicle compared to animals receiving diazepam (11 +/- 1 min). Significant increases in heart rate were seen up to 5 hours after coronary occlusion only in animals receiving vehicle. The results indicate that diazepam pretreatment can increase ventricular fibrillation latency and prevent heart rate increases following acute myocardial infarction.     

Tying with thread of the rat coronary arteries, a method for the production of experimental coronary stenosis]

A method is described for producing a localized coronary artery stenosis by tieing two threads around the Ramus descendens of the left coronary artery, which produces progressive cell proliferation of the vascular wall. Studies on 102 male Wistar rats (70 experimental and 32 sham-operated control animals) have shown coronary artery stenosis narrowing the lumen by more than 50% (up to and exceeding 90%) to develop after 7 days in 30% of the animals, after 14 days in 75%, and after 21 days (postoperatively) in 100%. In about one-third of the cases subtotal infarction in the supply area of the left coronary artery occured as a result of post-operative damage to the coronary artery with obturating thrombosis. The induction of effective coronary stenosis limiting the coronary reserve offers possibilities for further experimental studies on the role of relative coronary insufficiency in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction.     

Effect of ethanol on myocardial infarct size in a canine model of coronary artery occlusion-reperfusion

This study was conducted to determine if elevated blood alcohol prior to acute coronary artery occlusion affects myocardial infarct size in an in vivo canine model. Seven pentobarbital anesthetized open-chest dogs received 10 min Iv infusion of ethanol (0.08 g/kg/min). Ten min after ethanol, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded distal to its first major branch for 60 min. The LAD was then reperfused for 5 h. Following electrically induced ventricular fibrillation, the area at risk of infarction was delineated with dye. The area of infarction was identified by staining with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. Eleven untreated control experiments were also conducted. Mean blood ethanol concentration was 155 ± 26 mg/dl just prior to LAD occlusion and 47 ± 3 mg/dl after 4 h reperfusion. Ethanol infusion had no effect on systemic hemodynamic variables during ischemia. In ethanol treated animals, the area at risk was 19.7 ± 3.0% of the left ventricle, and the infarct size was 20.9 ± 4.8% of the area at risk. In control experiments, the area at risk was 23.0 ± 4.1% of the left ventricle (p > 0.05), and the infarct size was 21.6 ± 3.8% of the area at risk (p > 0.05). Collateral blood flow to ischemic region did not differ between the two groups, and the relationships between infarct size and collateral flow were similar for control and untreated hearts. Acute ethanol exposure prior to coronary artery occlusion and subsequent reperfusion does not affect myocardial infarct size in the heart of the anesthetized dog.     

Ectopic atrial arrhythmias arising from canine thoracic veins during in vivo stellate ganglia stimulation

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether thoracic veins may act as ectopic pacemakers and whether nodelike cells and rich sympathetic innervation are present at the ectopic sites. We used a 1,792-electrode mapping system with 1-mm resolution to map ectopic atrial arrhythmias in eight normal dogs during in vivo right and left stellate ganglia (SG) stimulation before and after sinus node crushing. SG stimulation triggered significant elevations of transcardiac norepinephrine levels, sinus tachycardia in all dogs, and atrial tachycardia in two of eight dogs. Sinus node crushing resulted in a slow junctional rhythm (51 +/- 6 beats/min). Subsequent SG stimulation induced 20 episodes of ectopic beats in seven dogs and seven episodes of pulmonary vein tachycardia in three dogs (cycle length 273 +/- 35 ms, duration 16 +/- 4 s). The ectopic beats arose from the pulmonary vein (n = 11), right atrium (n = 5), left atrium (n = 2), and the vein of Marshall (n = 2). There was no difference in arrhythmogenic effects of left vs. right SG stimulation (13/29 vs. 16/29 episodes, P = nonsignificant). There was a greater density of periodic acid Schiff-positive cells (P < 0.05) and sympathetic nerves (P < 0.05) at the ectopic sites compared with other nonectopic atrial sites. We conclude that, in the absence of a sinus node, thoracic veins may function as subsidiary pacemakers under heightened sympathetic tone, becoming the dominant sites of initiation of focal atrial arrhythmias that arise from sites with abundant sympathetic nerves and periodic acid Schiff-positive cells.     

Catecholamine effects on cardiac remodelling,oxidative stress and fibrosis in experimental heart failure

The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between oxidative stress, cardiac remodelling and fibrosis on an experimental model of heart failure with adrenergic stimulation. Large myocardial infarction (approximately 50% of the left ventricle myocardium) was obtained by ligation of the left coronary artery of normotensive male Wistar rats. Sham animals were submitted to left thoracotomy without coronary ligation. In order to perform cardiac stimulation by catecholamines, mini-osmotic pumps were implanted in animals 10 weeks after surgery to deliver noradrenalin for a 2-week period. At the end of this period, the following investigations were performed: haemodynamics, morphometry, fibrosis quantification, plasma and tissue catecholamine assay and oxidative stress status. Coronary ligation induced dilatation of left ventricle with compensatory hypertrophy of the right ventricle and of the remaining left ventricle myocardium. This remodelling process was associated in non-infarcted myocardium with increased collagen infiltration and increased oxidative stress. Ten weeks after surgery, the chronic administration of noradrenalin for 2 weeks did not increase oxidative stress. Noradrenalin, however, induced inotropic stimulation and myocardial hypertrophy, but to a lesser extent in infarcted rats compared to sham rats. Our results suggest that noradrenalin infusion to levels in excess of those seen post-infarction is associated with fibrosis and oxidative stress. Moreover, noradrenalin in infarcted animals caused additional fibrosis without further increasing oxidative stress. The mechanism of catecholamine-induced fibrosis may thus involve different processes such as ischaemia, increased mechanical stress, cytokines and neurohormones.     

Availability of glucose given orally during exercise

The present study was designed to determine whether daily exercise alters adrenergic and muscarinic neural control of coronary blood flow during resting and exercising conditions in the conscious dog. Mean left circumflex artery blood flow (CBF), mean coronary blood pressure, and heart rate were measured during resting conditions (55 +/- 9 ml/min, 108 +/- 6 mmHg, and 93 +/- 2 beats/min, respectively) and during submaximal exercise (85 +/- 9 ml/min, 108 +/- 7 mmHg, and 210 +/- 15 beats/min). Injection of phentolamine into the left circumflex coronary artery during treadmill exercise resulted in a 10 +/- 1% increase in CBF before training (untrained, UT) and a 21 +/- 6% increase after 4-5 wk of daily exercise (partially trained, PT) (P less than 0.02 UT vs. PT). Intracoronary atenolol or propranolol caused a 15 +/- 6% reduction in CBF during exercise in dogs before and after PT. While the dogs were lying quietly at rest intracoronary injections of norepinephrine initially increased CBF 85%, followed by a prolonged 19 +/- 9% decrease in CBF. CBF decreased 16 +/- 3% after intracoronary injection of phenylephrine. After PT the coronary vasoconstriction following norepinephrine and phenylephrine injections was significantly potentiated (31 +/- 6 and 35 +/- 4%, respectively). These data suggest that exercise training caused significant changes in the coronary vascular response to alpha-receptor stimulation so that an alteration in the neural control of the coronary circulation occurred.     

The effect of dietary fish oils on eicosanoid biosynthesis in peritoneal macrophages is influenced by both dietary N-6 polyunsaturated fats and total dietary fat

Recent research has implicated dietary fish oils in the reduction of eicosanoids formed from arachidonic acid and amelioration of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis and inflammation. Feeding studies were conducted to determine if the efficacy of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from fish oils was influenced by the quantity of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the total level of fat in the diet. Groups of mice were fed diets composed of 5 and 20% total fat with varying proportions of linoleic acid as a source of n-6 PUFA. Menhaden oil as a source of n-3 PUFA was fed at two levels of n-6 at each level of total fat. Eicosanoid biosynthesis was stimulated and assayed in the mouse peritoneum using zymosan as an inflammatory stimulus. Production of LTE4 and PGE2 was enhanced by increasing n-6 PUFA in the diet at both levels of total fat. High dietary fat significantly suppressed leukotriene (LT) synthesis. Dietary menhaden oil reduced LTE4 and PGE2 synthesis at both levels of dietary n-6 in the low fat study. In animals on 20% dietary fat menhaden oil significantly reduced LT synthesis only at a relatively low dietary n-6 PUFA. On a high n-6 PUFA high fat diets, menhaden oil did not significant affect LTE4 synthesis in response to zymosan stimulation. The results suggest that the effectiveness of fish oils in reducing eicosanoids in response to specific stimulation is influenced by the level of n-6 and the total quantity of fat in the diet.     

Can n-3 PUFA reduce cardiac arrhythmias? Results of a clinical trial

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from fatty fish or fish oil may reduce the incidence of lethal myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. This might be due to a prevention of fatal cardiac arrhythmias. So far, however, only few clinical data are available being adequate to define indications for an antiarrhythmic treatment with n-3 PUFA. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 65 patients with cardiac arrhythmias without coronary heart disease or heart failure were subdivided into 2 groups. One group (n = 33) was supplemented with encapsulated fish oil (3g/day, equivalent to 1g/day of n-3 PUFA) over 6 months. The other group (n = 32) was given 3g/day of olive oil as placebo. In the fish oil group a decrease of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, plasma free fatty acids and thromboxane B2 as well as an increase of HDL cholesterol were observed. Moreover, a reduced incidence of atrial and ventricular premature complexes, couplets and triplets were documented. Accordingly, higher grades of Lown's classification switched to lower grades at the end of the dietary period. No changes were seen in the placebo group. The data indicate an antiarrhythmic action of n-3 PUFA under conditions of clinical practice which might help to explain the reduced incidence of fatal myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in cohorts on a fish-rich diet or supplemented with n-3 PUFA. Further studies elucidating the possible link between the reduced incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death by dietary intake of n-3 PUFA are warranted.     

Hemodynamic effects of procainamide and quinidine and the influence of beta-blockade before and after experimental myocardial infarction.

The use of antiarrhythmie drugs in combination has been limited because of possible side effects secondary to myocardial depression in the acute myocardial infarction patient. Therefore, we investigated in intact dogs (group I) the hemodynamic interaction of propranolol plus procainamide (subgroup A) or quinidine (subgroup B) and in dogs after experimental myocardial infarction produced by coronary artery ligation (group II). Infusion of procainamide (30 mg/kg over 5 min) in animals of group IA produced a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease of 30% in mean aortic pressure, a decrease of 40% in left ventricular dp/dt and 29% in cardiac output. When procainamide was reinfuse after propranolol (1 mg/kg), its hemodynamic effects were not significantly different from those observed before propranolol in both groups IA and IIA. Infusion of quinidine (10 mg/kg over 5 min) in animals of group IB (intact dogs) also produced significant decreases of 24% in mean aortic pressure and 38% in dp/dt while cardiac output was unchanged. However, these hemodynamic changes were seen only after beta-blockade and were significantly different from those obtained before propranolol, where heart rate increased by 14%, dp/dt by 30%, and cardiac output by 35%. These changes occurred despite a similar reduction in mean aortic pressure. This drug combination produced similar response in animals after coronary artery ligation (group IIB). In conclusion, we feel that the administration of propranolol does not prevent the depressive circulatory effects of procainamide. The combined use of quinidine and propranolol also has a negative circulatory effect although not as marked as the effects observed after procainamide with propranolol.     

Coronary artery embolization in closed-chest canines using flexible radiopaque plugs

A new technique induces localized myocardial infarction in closed-chest dogs by placing discrete plugs in coronary arteries without using cumbersome coaxial catheters or guide wires. Flexible plugs, essential to this method, are formed by extruding a dental impression polymer, rendered radiopaque with sodium iodide, into spaghetti-like strands. Segments of these strands can be injected through a catheter into a selected coronary artery. Contact with blood or saline causes plugs to swell. The mean increase in plug diameter due to swelling was 27 +/- 20%. Eight anesthetized dogs were embolized via carotid approach [6 left anterior descending (LAD), 1 left circumflex (LCX), and 1 LAD and LCX]. Plug positions were monitored fluoroscopically. One animal died at 2 days postembolization. The remaining seven dogs were killed after 14-37 days. Autopsies showed complete vessel occlusion and localized infarction. Infarcts resulting from coronary artery occlusion with one, two, or three plugs involved 2-26% of the left ventricular mass.     

Prevention of disorders of the electric stability of the heart in experimental infarct using adaptation to hypoxia

It has been shown on rats preadapted to hypoxia in an altitude chamber that myocardial infarction induced by ligation of the coronary artery was accompanied by less disturbances in the electrical stability of the heart, namely by a twofold decrease in ventricular fibrillation threshold and a considerable decrease in the heart ectopic activity. Preliminary adaptation provided the maintenance of myocardial contractility in infarction.