Experimental models of heart failure

Abstract

Experimental models of heart failure can be used to address specific questions not easily answered in patients, but no single model can reproduce exactly any of the clinical syndromes of heart failure since these are dominated by fatigue and breathlessness. Heart failure may be induced experimentally by pressure loading, volume loading, myocardial infarction, or by the creation of other disease states within the myocardium. Pressure loading may be especially useful in the study of ventricular hypertrophy, cellular derangements and vascular changes. Volume loading may be useful when examining the pathogenesis of hormone and electrolyte disturbances. Models of myocardial infarction or destruction are likely to be the most suitable for assessing novel therapy provided that peripheral reflexes are maintained. Experimental cardiomyopathy can provide an important means of identifying pathological subcellular mechanisms. They may be of use in the evaluation of vasodilator drugs but caution should be exercised in the study of inotropic agents. Any one model may be useful if it permits study of a single factor or variable in isolation or at a time when information is not obtainable from patients. For greatest clinical relevance, studies should be made in conscious animals with intact reflexes.

Knockdown of Cytochrome P450 2E1 Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in the cTnT R141W Dilated Cardiomyopathy Transgenic Mice

“…In the groups of NTGϩADR and CYP2E1-silence ϩADR, ADR was induced by intraperitoneal injection in a constant volume of saline at 4 mg/kg every other day for a total of 2 weeks. 31 The groups of NTGϩsaline and CYP2E1-silenceϩsaline mice received the same amount of saline. Echocardiography was performed on all of the mice at day 0 (the day before the treatment of ADR).…”

Study of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation for Rats with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

“…12) Either intravenous or intraperitoneal injection or coronary artery local injection can be adopted; 13) (2) Overdrive-pacing; 14) (3) Viral infection; 15) (4) Furazolidone induction; (5) High salt diet in order to raise blood pressure, cardiac preload and afterload, which contribute to heart enlargement and heart failure. 16,17) In this article, rats models of chronic congestive heart failure were established by intraperitoneal injection, and it was identified that rats possess cardiomyopathy and chronic congestive heart failure properties through the index of pathological and hemodynamic detection.…”

Beta-adrenoceptor inhibition for induction of acute cardiac failure in pigs

“…The extent of ischaemic tissue and the resulting heart failure is determined by the position of the ligation and the degree of coronary collateral circulation (Smith & Nuttall 1985, Elsner & Riegger 1995. The disadvantages of this method are the necessity to perform a thoracotomy, an initial high mortality rate, mostly caused by arrhythmia, and the development of mild or moderate heart failure during long-term follow-up.…”

“…19861. Nevertheless it has rarely been used in experimental haemodynamic investigation of surgical therapeutic approaches to the management of cardiac failure such as dynamic cardiomyoplasty, mechanical assist devices or artificial hearts. Apart from the induction of myocardial infarction due to coronary ligation no other model of acute heart failure in pigs is reported in the literature (Smith & Nuttall 1985, Elsner & Riegger 1995.…”