A Chronic Heart Failure Model by Coronary Artery Ligation in the Goat

Abstract

The availability of a reliable heart failure model in large animals is important. We report upon our efforts to develop a chronic heart failure model in seven goats using sequential ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and its diagonal branch. After anesthesia and left thoracotomy, the LAD artery was ligated, and the diagonal vessel at the same level was ligated one hour later. Cardiac measurements were performed with a thermodilution catheter and by ultrasonography. Two months after the operation, the same measurements were made and animals were sacrificed for postmortem examinations of their hearts. Hemodynamic measurements, except cardiac output, showed no significant changes immediately after the coronary artery ligation. Echocardiographic measurements showed significant changes in the ejection fraction and fractional shortening without changes in left ventricular dimensions. Wall motion analyses demonstrated variable degrees of anteroseptal dyskinesia and akinesia in all animals immediately after coronary artery ligation. Five animals have undergone hemodynamic and ultrasonographic studies 2 months after coronary artery ligation. The results obtained from these animals showed significant increases in central venous pressure, right ventricular pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary artery capillary wedge pressure, and a significant decrease in cardiac output. Increases in left ventricular dimensions and decreases in ejection fraction with fractional shortening in ultrasonographic studies were also observed. Pathologically, well-demarcated thin-walled anteroseptal infarcts, with chamber enlargement, were clearly seen with dilatation of the heart chambers in all specimens. Based on this study, we conclude that goats, like sheep, can provide a reliable model of chronic heart failure by coronary artery ligation and in view of the many advantages offered by goats, we believe that this animal model will be useful for cardiac experimentation.

Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Improves Cardiac Function after Ischemic Injury by Inducing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Production and Survival of Cardiomyocytes

“…Myocardial infarction was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation with some modifications. 28 For the permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation model, left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated at a point ϳ60% from the beginning of the left coronary artery to the apex. M-CSF (40 g/kg body weight) intravenous injection began just after the ligation and continued daily for 13 days; on day 14, the goats were anesthetized with 2% halothane and sacrificed.…”

Estudo anatômico das artérias coronárias em caprinos

“…Como as artérias coronárias de caprinos têm sido utilizadas em pesquisas experimentais (Kim et al 2003, Dieguez et al 2004, Fernandez et al 2005, Shirakawa et al 2005, Deka et al 2005, Climent et al 2006, para aplicação futura em corações humanos, achou-se oportuno verificar a existência de semelhanças na distribuição das artérias coronárias entre caprinos e humanos. A artéria diagonal esteve presente em 9,7% das peças de caprinos, já em corações humanos a freqüência é de 45,3% (Baptista et al 1991).…”

“…Entre os animais, as coronárias de caprinos têm sido citadas na literatura com os seguintes objetivos: hiperemia reativa na circulação coronária , Climent et al 2006, ações de fármacos em coronárias (Fernandez et al 2005, Dieguez et al 2004, vasodilatação coronária induzida (Deka et al 2005), insuficiência cardíaca após ligadura da artéria coronária (Kim et al 2003), modelos experimentais de infarto agudo do miocárdio (Shirakawa et al 2005).…”

Letter by Schmitto et al Regarding Article “Large Animal Models of Heart Failure: A Critical Link in the Translation of Basic Science to Clinical Practice”

“…In addition to those cited in the article, there are several more heart failure animal models in other species that are worth mentioning, including those in calves, goats, or even baboons. [2][3][4] "Coronary microembolizations" is a topic that deserves further elaboration. In addition to the description by Sabbah et al, 5 the feasibility of performing repetitive coronary microembolizations in dogs, many groups have successfully used various approaches to microembolizations, but with different embolic materials.…”