NOTE: All Procedures were approved by the Lifespan Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and all animals and procedures according to the National research Council Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals10.
1. Balloon Fabrication and Left Ventricular Pressure Monitoring Circuit
<ol>
	<li>Construct LV balloons according to Miller et al.11 In a beaker with a stir bar, mix 9.5 ml of distilled water, 14.2 ml of light corn syrup and 33.8 g of sucrose, and ...

<ol>
	<li>Kloner, R. a., Jennings, R. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Consequences+of+Brief+Ischemia:+Stunning,+Preconditioning,+and+Their+Clinical+Implications:+Part+1.">Consequences of Brief Ischemia: Stunning, Preconditioning, and Their Clinical Implications: Part 1.</a> Circulation. 104 (24), 2981-2989 (2001).</li><li>Mentzer, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myocardial+protection+in+heart+surgery.">Myocardial protection in heart surgery.</a> J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 16 (3-4), 290-297 (2011).</li><li>Chambers, D. J., Fallouh, H. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardioplegia+and+cardiac+surgery:+pharmacological+arrest+and+cardioprotection+during+global+ischemia+and+reperfusion.">Cardioplegia and cardiac surgery: pharmacological arrest and cardioprotection during global ischemia and reperfusion.</a> Pharmacol Ther. 127 (1), 41-52 (2010).</li><li>Bolli, R., Marb&#225;n, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+and+cellular+mechanisms+of+myocardial+stunning.">Molecular and cellular mechanisms of myocardial stunning.</a> Physiol Rev. 79 (2), 609-634 (1999).</li><li>Kloner, R. a., Bolli, R., Marban, E., Reinlib, L., Braunwald, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Medical+and+Cellular+Implications+of+Stunning,+Hibernation,+and+Preconditioning+An+NHLBI+Workshop.">Medical and Cellular Implications of Stunning, Hibernation, and Preconditioning An NHLBI Workshop.</a> Circulation. 97 (18), 1848-1867 (1998).</li><li>Mersmann, J., Latsch, K., Habeck, K., Zacharowski, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measure+for+measure-determination+of+infarct+size+in+murine+models+of+myocardial+ischemia+and+reperfusion:+a+systematic+review.">Measure for measure-determination of infarct size in murine models of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion: a systematic review.</a> Shock (Augusta, Ga). 35 (5), 449-455 (2011).</li><li>Bell, R. M., Mocanu, M. M., Yellon, D. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retrograde+heart+perfusion:+the+Langendorff+technique+of+isolated+heart+perfusion).">Retrograde heart perfusion: the Langendorff technique of isolated heart perfusion).</a> J Mol Cell Cardiol. 50 (6), 940-950 (2011).</li><li>Skrzypiec-Spring, M., Grotthus, B., Szelag, A., Schulz, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolated+heart+perfusion+according+to+Langendorff---still+viable+in+the+new+millennium.">Isolated heart perfusion according to Langendorff---still viable in the new millennium.</a> J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 55 (2), 113-126 (2007).</li><li>Sutherland, F. J., Shattock, M. J., Baker, K. E., Hearse, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+isolated+perfused+heart+characteristics+and+cautions.">Mouse isolated perfused heart characteristics and cautions.</a> Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 30 (11), 867-878 (2003).</li><li>Miller, A., Wright, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fabrication+of+Murine+Ventricular+Balloons+for+the+Langendorff+Heart+Preparation.">Fabrication of Murine Ventricular Balloons for the Langendorff Heart Preparation.</a> J Biotecnol Biomater. 1 (101), 1-4 (2011).</li><li>Curtis, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterisation,+utilisation+and+clinical+relevance+of+isolated+perfused+heart+models+of+ischaemia-induced+ventricular+fibrillation.">Characterisation, utilisation and clinical relevance of isolated perfused heart models of ischaemia-induced ventricular fibrillation.</a> Cardiovasc Res. 39 (1), 194-215 (1998).</li><li>Clements, R. T., Feng, J., Cordeiro, B., Bianchi, C., Sellke, F. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=p38+MAPK-dependent+small+HSP27+and+&#945;B-crystallin+phosphorylation+in+regulation+of+myocardial+function+following+cardioplegic+arrest.">p38 MAPK-dependent small HSP27 and &#945;B-crystallin phosphorylation in regulation of myocardial function following cardioplegic arrest.</a> American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology. 300 (5), H1669-H1677 (2011).</li><li>Clements, R. T., Cordeiro, B., Feng, J., Bianchi, C., Sellke, F. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rottlerin+increases+cardiac+contractile+performance+and+coronary+perfusion+through+BKCa+++channel+activation+after+cold+cardioplegic+arrest+in+isolated+hearts.">Rottlerin increases cardiac contractile performance and coronary perfusion through BKCa++ channel activation after cold cardioplegic arrest in isolated hearts.</a> Circulation. 124 (11 Suppl), S55-S61 (2011).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The preceding protocol details methods to evaluate myocardial stunning secondary to global ischemia associated with cardioplegic arrest. In our hands this protocol produces an approximate ~40% reduction in cardiac function (LVDP, +/- dP/dt) with minimal changes in heart rate at the 30 min post-reperfusion time point. As the heart is reperfused and rewarmed all parameters of cardiac function are reduced at initial time points with a greatly reduced heart rate before stabilizing between 20 and 30 min. Coronary flow is gene...

Myocardial stunning is defined as reversible reduced contractile activity despite restoration of adequate blood flow following a brief period of ischemia or prolonged periods of ischemic insults with cardioprotection1,2,3,4,5. The method presented is specifically used to model clinically relevant ischemic insults which can result in reversible impairments in contractile function (i.e., ischemic insults associated with cardiac surgery utilizing cardioplegic arrest, brief periods of ischemia, angina, etc.). In contrast to severe ischemia studies (myocardial infarction, necrosis) this protocol was developed to evaluate myocardial functional recovery and cardioprotection without tissue injury, remodeling, and cell death. The majority of the paper discusses a standard cardioplegic arrest protocol with elements similar to a cardiac surgery using hypothermia and intermittent cardioplegia delivery.
Myocardial protection during the majority of cardiac surgeries relies on cardioplegia and cardiopulmonary bypass. Although cardioplegia (CP) solutions and strategies vary widely (blood, crystalloid, cold, warm etc.) the most common elements are 1) hyperkalemia and/or other strategies to arrest the heart in diastole, thereby limiting energy utilization resulting from myocardial contraction, and 2) hypothermia to slow metabolism and help maintain ATP and other energy reserves while arrested. Current cardioplegia solutions provide protection to the heart against ischemic insults that would otherwise prove lethal. However, cardioprotective strategies during surgical ischemic insults are not perfect, and the resultant mild ischemic injury can result in reversible cardiac contractile dysfunction despite adequate blood flow (myocardial stunning), acidosis, cardiomyocyte damage, and vascular effects including reduced coronary perfusion and vasospasm.
This protocol differs from standard isolated heart ischemia models evaluating myocardial infarction and severe ischemia in that it evaluates milder ischemic insults which can result in impaired cardiac function following brief ischemia or ischemic insults associated with cardioplegic arrest. (for review on Langendorff perfusion techniques and I/R studies see6&#8211;8). For general guidelines and a thorough analysis of experimental parameters associated with mouse isolated perfused hearts see Sutherland et al. 20039 The technique presented here details the necessary equipment, reagents, steps, strategies and tips to reliably induce stunning in mouse hearts. Minor modifications are necessary to apply the technique to rats.
Briefly isolated mouse hearts are Langendorff perfused for approximately 30 min with physiologic Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB), followed by cold protected cardiac arrest via delivery of a hyperkalemic hypothermic cardioplegia solution. Following arrest, cardiac functional recovery is monitored during rewarming and reperfusion of the heart with KHB. Changes in the degree of recovery of cardiac contractile function can be evaluated to assess cardioprotective agents and different cardioprotection strategies.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr >
			<td >Cardioplegia Solution (St Thomas II)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td >Symbol / Concentrations (mM)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Sodium Chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>NaCl; 110</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Potassium chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>KCl; 16</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>CaCL2; 1.5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Magnesium Chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>MgCL2; 16</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>NaHCO3; 10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Krebs-Heinslet Buffer</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Sodium Chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>NaCl; 118</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Potassium Chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>KCl; 4.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Magnesium Sulfate</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>MgSO4; 1.7</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>NaHCO3; 24.9</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Potassium Phosphate (monobasic)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>KH2PO4; 1.2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>CaCL2; 1.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Sodium Pyruvate</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>Na pyruvate; 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Glucose</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td>C6H12O6; 6</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Balloon reagents</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Corn Syrup</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Spaghetti</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Silicon Dispersion Gel</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >styrofoam block</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >lab oven/incubator ( 50C)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Langendorff Perfusion equipment</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Isolated perfused heart sytem (IH-SR (Hugo-Sachs) or equivalent)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Data acquisition system (DSI, ADinstruments or equivalent)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Heated water circulator</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Cooling water circulator</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Perfusion pump capable of 2-30 ml/min</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Inline perfusion filters - 1 um glass fiber</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Pressure sensors and amplifiers for LVP and perfusion pressure</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Small graduated cylinder (~10 mL)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Small temperature probe and thermometer (Werner or equivalent)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >perfusion resevoir (1L)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >cardioplegia resevoir (~200 mL)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >gas bubbler</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >95/5 O2/CO2 mix</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Surgical tools and reagents</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Metzenbaum and Potz surgical scissors</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >two Dumont size 5 forceps</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >ketamine</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >xylazine</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >heparin</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >small clamp with soft sides to hold aorta (i.e. terminal clamp with taped ends)</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Silk 2-0 and 4-0 sutures</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

murine isolated heart model of myocardial stunning associated with cardioplegic arrest

The following protocol is of use to evaluate impaired cardiac function or myocardial stunning following moderate ischemic insults. The technique is useful for modeling ischemic injury associated with numerous clinically relevant phenomenon including cardiac surgery with cardioplegic arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass, off-pump CABG, transplant, angina, brief ischemia, etc. The protocol presents a general method to model hypothermic hyperkalemic cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion in rodent hearts focusing on measurement of myocardial contractile function. In brief, a mouse heart is perfused in langendorff mode, instrumented with an intraventricular balloon, and baseline cardiac functional parameters are recorded. Following stabilization, the heart is then subject to brief infusion of a cardioprotective hypothermic cardioplegia solution to initiate diastolic arrest. Cardioplegia is delivered intermittently over 2 hr. The heart is then reperfused and warmed to normothermic temperatures and recovery of myocardial function is monitored. Use of this protocol results in reliable depressed cardiac contractile function free from gross myocardial tissue damage in rodents.

Figure 1 presents typical results from one mouse experiment. LVP (red line), dP/dt (green line), and temperature (purple line) were continusouly recorded over ~3 hr. Letters indicate a - baseline measurement, b, c, d, e - delivery of cardioplegia solution, f - start of reperfusion, g, h, i, j - measurement of cornary flow during reperfusion. Note, depressed LVDP and dP/dt upon reperfusion compared to baseline. Figure 1B includes the data from A recorded over ~2 sec. Note, the decrease in...

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Murine Isolated Heart Model of Myocardial Stunning Associated with Cardioplegic Arrest

The goal of this protocol to assess myocardial stunning following ischemic cardioplegic arrest in rodents.

The following protocol is of use to evaluate impaired cardiac function or myocardial stunning following moderate ischemic insults. The technique is useful ...

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11.6K vistas.  Brown University. The goal of this protocol to assess myocardial stunning following ischemic cardioplegic arrest in rodents.