The studies described here have been funded by grants awarded to P.S Macdonald from the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia, the St Vincent&#39;s Clinic Foundation, and the NSW Health Cardiovascular Research Capacity Senior Investigator Grant.

All animals received humane care in compliance with the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) guidelines. All animal procedures were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney, Australia).
1. Preparation of Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 2 L of a 20x stock solution of KH buffer containing 2.36 M NaCl, 0.094 M KCl, 0.024 M MgSO4, 0.024 M KH2PO4. Aliquot into 50 mL tubes and store at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prior to the experiment, prepare two 2 L Erlenmyer flasks of 1x KH buffer containing 1900 mL of deionized water, 100 mL of 20x stock KH buffer, 4.20 g of NaHCO3 (25 mM), and 3.96 g of glucose (11 mM).
	<ol>
		<li>Place buffer flasks in a 37 &#176;C water bath and gas the solution with carbogen (95% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide, flow rate set to 2 L/min) via air stones (slip-on inlet filter) for 5 min, then add 2.8 mL of 1 M CaCl2 (1.4 mM). Continue bubbling the solution for at least 1 h prior to the start of the experiment.&#160;Use of an air stone assists with uniform aeration of the buffer.</li>
		<li>Place a small volume (~50 mL) of buffer into a round metal dish at -20 &#176;C to cool and form a layer of iced buffer.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of perfusion circuit
<ol>
	<li>Ensure all tubing and glassware are clean with no visible growth/contamination.</li>
	<li>Set up heights of glass chambers to correspond to required perfusion pressures based on 1 cm H2O being equivalent to 1.36 mmHg: Langendorff-to-heart 100 cm (approximately 75 mmHg), pre-load working side-to-heart 15 cm (approximately 11 mmHg), heart-to-afterload chamber 100 cm (approximately 75 mmHg).</li>
	<li>Start circulation of hot water around the circuit at least 10 min before heart perfusion.</li>
	<li>Place microfiber filters (1.2 &#181;m) into filter holders and secure them tightly.</li>
	<li>Prime the circuit with KH buffer, ensuring all air is removed, and use a flow control tubing clamp to adjust the flow on the Langendorff side (Figure 1A, B) to ~50 mL/min. The slower flow allows for ease of aortic cannulation and prevents the heart from being dislodged before tying. Place a thermometer within the circuit via a T-shaped tubing connector to monitor the temperature of the buffer at ~37 &#176;C.</li>
</ol>
3. Setting up of Lab Chart (data analysis) software
<ol>
	<li>Ensure Powerlab (data acquisition system) and flowmeter are switched on and connected to the computer prior to opening the data analysis software.</li>
	<li>Open a new file.</li>
	<li>Set up data collection by selecting the Settings drop-down menu and selecting Channel Settings. Select for Aortic Pressure, Aortic Flow, and Heart Rate (Figure 2A).</li>
	<li>Set up each channel with the settings shown in Figure 2B.</li>
</ol>
4. Preparation of animal for rat heart isolation
NOTE: The methodology for rat heart isolation and perfusion for non-DBD and non-DCD hearts for cold static storage is outlined below. The methods for heart instrumentation onto the perfusion circuit are relatively similar regardless of which donation method is used. The differences in the protocol for DBD and DCD rat heart donation primarily occur from the time the animal anesthesia has taken effect to when the heart is excised from the animal.
<ol>
	<li>Weigh the animal, ensuring that its weight is &#62;330 g. The ideal weight range for male rats is 330-420 g.</li>
	<li>Administer an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg). Ensure adequate surgical plane of anesthesia based on the absence of a pedal reflex (toe-pinch reflex) and eye blink reflex.</li>
	<li>Place the animal in a supine position, securing the limbs with tape. Administer oxygen to the animal via a nose cone.</li>
	<li>Have the KH buffer ice-slush metal container and a small metal container with ice at the dissecting station. Soak a 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm gauze in KH buffer and place it on the container with ice.</li>
	<li>Once adequate surgical plane of anesthesia is confirmed, shave the skin at the surgical incision site and clean the skin with aseptic such as betadine or 70% alcohol. Make a lateral incision across the abdomen (laparotomy) and move the stomach and intestines to the side to allow access to the left renal vein. Inject 1500 IU heparin and apply pressure to the injection site until the bleeding stops. Allow 1-2 min for heparin to circulate before continuing with heart retrieval.</li>
	<li>Open the chest cavity by cutting through the rib cage on either side and cutting across the diaphragm. Carefully hold and lift the heart-lung bloc while cutting along the descending aorta, ensuring that the aortic arch remains intact. This will allow for enough aorta length to remain for cannulation.</li>
	<li>The rat is euthanized by the removal of the heart and lungs while under anesthesia. Submerge the heart-lung bloc in the KH buffer ice slush to allow the heart to arrest.</li>
</ol>
5. Cannulating the heart onto the isolated working heart perfusion circuit
<ol>
	<li>Transfer the heart-lung bloc to a gauze on ice. Dissect excess fat around the aorta, trim the aorta to leave 3-5 mm length for cannulation, and make a small incision ~1-2 mm in the pulmonary artery. This will allow a path for the coronary effluent.</li>
	<li>Place the trimmed heart-lung bloc (while still on ice) directly underneath the cannulas. Adjust the flow from the Langendorff side using a flow control tubing clamp to facilitate aortic cannulation. Carefully cannulate the aorta onto the left cannula, hold it with a black clamp, and tie it with a 2-0 silk suture.</li>
	<li>Increase flow from Langendorff perfusion by completely opening the flow control tubing clamp. Open the afterload clamp. Ensure that there is continuous flow from the Langendorff chamber. Start monitoring heart activity with software. 
	NOTE: if the aortic flow value on the Flowmeter display is &#60;10 mL/min, ensure that the pulmonary arteriotomy is of sufficient size. A low aortic flow trace/value could also indicate that the aortic cannula has been inserted too far.</li>
	<li>Adjust the heart-lung bloc so that the anterior surface of the lungs is facing the operator. Tie the left lung lobe with a 2-0 silk suture and cut off excess left lung tissue. Tie the remaining lung lobes in one sweep with a 2-0 silk suture and cut the tissue. Rotate the heart so that the tied lungs are towards the back.</li>
	<li>Using small Vannas scissors, cut a 2-3 mm edge of the left atrial appendage, ensuring that a small opening into the atria is achieved. Carefully cannulate the left atrial appendage to the left cannula, hold it with a black clamp, and tie it with a 2-0 silk suture. Figure 3A shows the placement of both cannulas.</li>
	<li>Adjust the heart chamber water jacket so that the heart sits within the center of the chamber.</li>
	<li>Open the pressure transducer to air and zero the pressure transducer in the software by selecting the Aortic Pressure drop-down menu &#62; Bridge Amp &#62; Zero. Click OK.</li>
	<li>Perfuse the heart in Langendorff mode for 10 min. Ensure that the Langendoff aortic flow measures between 10-20 mL/min (ideal 20 mL/min).</li>
	<li>Prior to switching the working mode, ensure that the air stone (slip-on inlet filter) from the Langendorff KH buffer reservoir is placed in the working KH buffer reservoir.</li>
	<li>Switch the heart into working mode by closing the large clamp leading to the aortic cannula and opening the flow leading to the left atrial appendage. Open three-way tap leading from working perfusate. Transfer the common return tubing (taking KH buffer back to the reservoir) from the Langendorff reservoir to the working reservoir.</li>
	<li>Perfuse the heart in working mode for 15 min. Aortic flow values must ideally be &#62;30 mL/min at the end of 15 min perfusion. Once the heart has stabilized, start recording data in data analysis software.</li>
	<li>Measure coronary effluent (coronary flow) at 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min. 
	NOTE: Coronary flow values should be between 10-20 mL/min. Coronary flow greater than 22 mL/min generally indicates a leak originating from an untied pulmonary vessel. Heart rate should be between 200-300 bpm. Coronary effluent can be collected for downstream analysis of tissue injury markers (e.g., troponin-I, lactate dehydrogenase release).</li>
</ol>
6. Administering cardioplegia for cold static storage of the heart
<ol>
	<li>Fill the cardioplegia chamber (positioned at a height of 60 cm to yield perfusion pressure of approximately 40 mmHg) with 50 mL of designated cardiac preservation solution (with or without supplementation).</li>
	<li>Lower the water jacket and close the three-way tap on the working mode side.</li>
	<li>Stop the flow towards the left atrial cannula by closing the clamp.</li>
	<li>Open the flow to the aortic cannula.</li>
	<li>Close the clamp from the Langendoff side and on the afterload.</li>
	<li>Open the clamp from the cardioplegia line and flush 15 mL of cardioplegia out from the pressure line.&#160;Close the tap at the pressure&#160;line.</li>
	<li>Allow the heart to be flushed with cardioplegia via the aortic cannula and collect the coronary effluent. Run cardioplegia for 3 min and record the volume of cardioplegia administered.</li>
	<li>Stop recording data in the software and save the file.</li>
	<li>After 3 min, close the cardioplegia clamp and the small blue clamp leading to the aortic cannula.</li>
	<li>Place a bulldog clamp on the aortic cannula and a second bulldog clamp on the left cannula. Disconnect the heart-cannula block from the circuit and place it in a beaker containing cardioplegia in an ice box (Figure 3B, C).</li>
	<li>Store the heart in the fridge for 6 h (or desired cold storage time).</li>
</ol>
7. Heart reperfusion after cold static storage
<ol>
	<li>Prepare KH buffer as per section 1.</li>
	<li>Prime the perfusion circuit as per section 2.</li>
	<li>Open the saved file from baseline perfusion.</li>
	<li>Carefully remove the heart-cannula block from the ice box and secure it onto the perfusion circuit. Before reconnecting the aortic cannula, use a blunt-end 18 G syringe filled with KH buffer to remove any air from the cannula. Connect the aortic cannula first, open the tubing clamp on the Langendorff side, and ensure the afterload tubing clamp is open.</li>
	<li>Reconnect the left atrial cannula, ensuring that air has been removed from the cannula before connecting to the perfusion circuit. Keep the working side clamp closed until it is time to switch from Langendorff to working mode.</li>
	<li>Perfuse the heart in Langendorff mode for 15 min. Ensure to start recording data at the start of Langendorff reperfusion.</li>
	<li>Prior to switching to the working mode, place both bubbling stones in the KH buffer, open the 3-way tap on the working side, and transfer common return tubing to the working reservoir.</li>
	<li>Close the white Langendorff clamp, open the white working side clamp, and perfuse the heart for 30 min. Measure and collect coronary effluent at designated time points for downstream analysis (e.g., cardiac injury markers). Ensure to stop-restart software recording to start a new segment (or alternatively, add a comment).</li>
	<li>At approximately 15 min working mode reperfusion, close the three-way tap.</li>
	<li>At the end of reperfusion, save the data file, stop the flow through the circuit, and disconnect the heart block. Collect left ventricle samples for histological processing and/or snap frozen for future studies (e.g., protein extraction for western blot studies).</li>
	<li>Remove the filters from the filter holders, drain the buffer from the circuit, and flush twice with 5 L of distilled water. 
	NOTE: Although not necessary, it does help to pre-warm the distilled water in a large container within the water bath.</li>
</ol>
8. Analysis of functional recovery
<ol>
	<li>Open the LabChart file.</li>
	<li>Highlight a region of at least 30 s of recording, then click Command &#62; Add data selection OR Multiple add to data. This will add the desired parameters to a DataPad file within the software.</li>
	<li>Select Window drop-down menu &#62; DataPad.</li>
	<li>Highlight and copy the recovery values from DataPad to a spreadsheet for functional recovery analysis. Calculate functional recovery as a percentage of its respective baseline value1,6,7.</li>
</ol>

Optimization of Donor Heart Preservation Using a Working Rat Heart Perfusion Model

<ol>
	<li>Kwan, J. C., Gao, L., Macdonald, P. S., Hicks, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardio-protective+signalling+by+glyceryl+trinitrate+and+cariporide+in+a+model+of+donor+heart+preservation.">Cardio-protective signalling by glyceryl trinitrate and cariporide in a model of donor heart preservation.</a> Heart Lung Circ. 24 (3), 306-318 (2015).</li><li>Watson, A. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhanced+preservation+of+the+rat+heart+after+prolonged+hypothermic+ischemia+with+erythropoietin-supplemented+Celsior+solution.">Enhanced preservation of the rat heart after prolonged hypothermic ischemia with erythropoietin-supplemented Celsior solution.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 32 (6), 633-640 (2013).</li><li>Chew, H. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Outcomes+of+donation+after+circulatory+death+heart+transplantation+in+Australia.">Outcomes of donation after circulatory death heart transplantation in Australia.</a> J Am Coll Cardiol. 73 (12), 1447-1459 (2019).</li><li>Dhital, K. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adult+heart+transplantation+with+distant+procurement+and+ex-vivo+preservation+of+donor+hearts+after+circulatory+death:+a+case+series.">Adult heart transplantation with distant procurement and ex-vivo preservation of donor hearts after circulatory death: a case series.</a> Lancet. 385 (9987), 2585-2591 (2015).</li><li>Joshi, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heart+transplantation+from+DCD+donors+in+Australia:+Lessons+learned+from+the+first+74+cases.">Heart transplantation from DCD donors in Australia: Lessons learned from the first 74 cases.</a> Transplantation. 107 (2), 361-371 (2023).</li><li>Villanueva, J. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+recovery+after+dantrolene-supplementation+of+cold+stored+hearts+using+an+ex+vivo+isolated+working+rat+heart+model.">Functional recovery after dantrolene-supplementation of cold stored hearts using an ex vivo isolated working rat heart model.</a> PLoS One. 13 (10), e205850 (2018).</li><li>Villanueva, J. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+cardioprotective+potential+of+the+sodium-glucose+cotransporter+2+inhibitor+empagliflozin+in+donor+heart+preservation.">The cardioprotective potential of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin in donor heart preservation.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 39 (10), 1151-1153 (2020).</li><li>Gao, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Critical+role+of+the+STAT3+pathway+in+the+cardioprotective+efficacy+of+zoniporide+in+a+model+of+myocardial+preservation+-+the+rat+isolated+working+heart.">Critical role of the STAT3 pathway in the cardioprotective efficacy of zoniporide in a model of myocardial preservation - the rat isolated working heart.</a> Br J Pharmacol. 162 (3), 633-647 (2011).</li><li>Cropper, J. R., Hicks, M., Ryan, J. B., Macdonald, P. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardioprotection+by+cariporide+after+prolonged+hypothermic+storage+of+the+isolated+working+rat+heart.">Cardioprotection by cariporide after prolonged hypothermic storage of the isolated working rat heart.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 22 (8), 929-936 (2003).</li><li>Gao, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhanced+functional+recovery+of+the+heart+donated+after+circulatory+death+determination+with+antemortem+heparin.">Enhanced functional recovery of the heart donated after circulatory death determination with antemortem heparin.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 39 (6), 607-609 (2020).</li><li>Villanueva, J. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effect+of+increasing+donor+age+on+myocardial+ischemic+tolerance+in+a+rodent+model+of+donation+after+circulatory+death.">The effect of increasing donor age on myocardial ischemic tolerance in a rodent model of donation after circulatory death.</a> Transplant Direct. 7 (6), e699 (2021).</li><li>Kumarasinghe, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+heart+function+from+older+donors+using+pharmacologic+conditioning+strategies.">Improved heart function from older donors using pharmacologic conditioning strategies.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 35 (5), 636-646 (2016).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Given the sensitive nature of heart baseline function, care must be taken to maintain the perfusion rig clean and with compatible components. For example, the correct PVC tubing must be used. Some tubing materials, such as silicone, can contribute to lower aortic flow and contractility, which may be due to loss of oxygen via the tubing. While there are isolated working rat heart perfusion circuits commercially available, most of these are primarily used for Langendorff perfusion only. Generally, functional measurements c...

The success of a heart transplant can be greatly influenced by the preservation method used for the donor heart. Donor hearts are subjected to ischemic insults throughout the organ retrieval, transport, and transplantation process. The degree of ischemic damage to the donor organ can be mitigated by selecting an appropriate donor heart preservation strategy. Cold static storage (CSS) remains the most feasible and common method for donor heart preservation; however, CSS may not necessarily be the best option for all heart donation pathways. For example, hearts procured via the donation after circulatory death (DCD) pathway are maintained and assessed for viability using normothermic machine perfusion, whereas hearts procured via the donation after brain death (DBD) pathway can be preserved using CSS or hypothermic machine perfusion. Another important determinant for the preservation strategy used is the amount of either warm ischemia (for DCD) or cold ischemia (for DBD) the heart is subjected to during organ procurement and transportation.
Many centers use additional pharmacological supplementation of the heart preservation solution to increase ischemic tolerance and improve post-transplant heart function. Rodent studies from our laboratory showed that supplementation of cardioplegia with erythropoietin and glyceryl trinitrate was able to significantly improve cardiac functional recovery after prolonged cold storage of the donor heart1,2. These studies then progressed to porcine studies of donor heart preservation and provided the pre-clinical groundwork that led to the incorporation of erythropoietin and glyceryl trinitrate into the cardioplegia solution of hearts procured via a DCD pathway utilizing normothermic machine perfusion3,4,5. Currently, supplementation with erythropoietin and glyceryl trinitrate is also used in Australian transplant units for clinical DBD heart retrievals incorporating CSS. The overall goal of the isolated working rat heart (IWRH) perfusion protocol outlined below is to test donor heart preservation strategies in a laboratory setting and test their efficacy for preserving donor heart function after reperfusion. The isolated working rat heart protocol described has been used for over two decades within our laboratory and has proven extremely useful in screening for potential supplements and/or strategies that can improve donor heart preservation2,7,8,9.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1.5 mL colorless Eppendorff tube, 1000 per box</td>
			<td>Bio Strategy Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>0030.125.150</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 mL cent/tubes (S) Sleeve/25 PP ctn/500</td>
			<td>Sigma-aldrich Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>CLS430791-500ea</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BP Transducer/Cable kit</td>
			<td>ADInstruments</td>
			<td>MLT1199</td>
			<td>Data Acquisition</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bridge Amp</td>
			<td>ADInstruments</td>
			<td>FE221</td>
			<td>Data Acquisition</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carbogen 555G2</td>
			<td>BOC</td>
			<td>BOC002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Checktemp1 thermometer</td>
			<td>Hanna Instruments</td>
			<td>HI98509</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clamp Pinch 1/4-7/16 PK 12</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>2848Y40</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clamp W/Extension Stem Med.</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>8847T08</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clamp W/Extension Stem Sm.</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>8847T02</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clips, Vessel, 60 g Pressure</td>
			<td>Coherent Scientific</td>
			<td>14121</td>
			<td>Surgical Equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Closed Connector</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>8847E25</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Covidien Sofsilk 2-0 black precut 45 cm box of 24</td>
			<td>Specialist Medical Supplies</td>
			<td>S195</td>
			<td>Surgical consumables</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Custom Made 250 mL Jacketed Degasser</td>
			<td>Custom Blown Glassware Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Custom Made 750 mL Reservoir</td>
			<td>Custom Blown Glassware Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-(+)-Glucose Anhydrous SigmaUltra</td>
			<td>Sigma-aldrich Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>G7528-1Kg</td>
			<td>To make Krebs Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual Channel Console</td>
			<td>ADInstruments</td>
			<td>TS402</td>
			<td>Data Acquisition</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Erlenmyer flasks 2 L&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter Microfibre type GF/C glass fibre 47 mm, 100</td>
			<td>Bio-strategy Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>1822047</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forceps, 15 cm, 0.3 mm, CRVD</td>
			<td>Coherent Scientific</td>
			<td>14114</td>
			<td>Surgical Equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Four Prong Clamps with 9 mm x 115 mm long arm for holding 2-70 mm diam objects. Vinyl coated</td>
			<td>Met-App Australia Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>1352</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heater Circulator. Digital Solid State Control. (1020 Watts/240 Volts)</td>
			<td>Thermoline Scientific</td>
			<td>TU3</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin 5000 U/5 mL box 50 Pfizer 02112115</td>
			<td>Clffird Hallam Healthcare Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>1258693</td>
			<td>Drugs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ilium Xylazil 20 Inj 50 mL</td>
			<td>Cenvet Australia Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>X5010</td>
			<td>Anaesthetic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Johns Hopkins Bulldog Clamp</td>
			<td>Coherent Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>CS-WPI-14117</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketamine 100 mg/50 mL</td>
			<td>Provet (NSW) Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>KETAI1</td>
			<td>Anaesthetic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium Sulphate heptahydrate AR 500 g Chemsupply</td>
			<td>Bio Strategy Pty Ltd</td>
			<td>MA048-500g</td>
			<td>To make Krebs Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Male/Female Hinged Adapter</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>8847V08</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Masterflex L/S Easy-Load Head for Precision Tubing, PPS, CRS Rotor</td>
			<td>John Morris</td>
			<td>1015164</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metzenbaum scissors, 11.5 cm curved</td>
			<td>Coherent Scientific</td>
			<td>WPI-501748</td>
			<td>Surgical Equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metzenbaum scissors, 14.5 cm straight</td>
			<td>Coherent Scientific</td>
			<td>WPI-501252</td>
			<td>Surgical Equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mounting Hardware F/2-HEADS SS</td>
			<td>John Morris</td>
			<td>1014414</td>
			<td>Mounting screws for pump heads</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Open-sided connector</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>8847E05</td>
			<td>Rig Construction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
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using an isolated working rat heart model to test donor heart preservation strategies

Optimization of donor heart preservation solutions has played a key role in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in donor hearts during organ retrieval, transportation, and transplantation. Previous work from our laboratory showed that the addition of glyceryl trinitrate and erythropoietin to donor heart preservation solutions could significantly improve cardiac functional recovery after prolonged cold storage and in donation after circulatory death hearts. This supplementation protocol has been implemented in clinical use in transplant units around Australia, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Here, we outline a protocol for testing supplementation strategies using an ex vivo isolated working rat heart (IWRH) perfusion circuit. Using this methodology, supplementation strategies can be tested in the context of prolonged cold static storage, donation after brain death, and donation after circulatory death donor heart preservation. Cardiac functional recovery, measured by aortic flow, coronary flow, cardiac output, pulse pressure, and heart rate, can be used to determine whether a particular preservation strategy can minimize ischemia-reperfusion injury of the donor heart.

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Donor Heart Preservation Through Isolated Rat Heart Perfusion Studies

Using an Isolated Working Rat Heart Model to Test Donor Heart Preservation Strategies

Our research uses an isolated rat heart perfusion circuit to test supplementation strategies for donor heart preservation. We aim to identify preservation strategies that can improve the functional recovery of donor hearts after either long periods of cold storage or long periods of warm ischemia following donation after circulatory death. The isolated work in rat heart protocol was used to initially test the current clinical donor heart preservation strategy of using glyceryl trinitrate and erythropoietin in the heart preservation solution.This provided the rationale for testing in a porcine heart transplant study before transitioning to the clinic. The advantage of using an isolated working rat heart perfusion protocol compared to Langendorff perfusion techniques is the ability to obtain functional measurements of the heart, such as aortic flow and cardiac output.

The results from the baseline perfusion will determine whether the initial experiment (pre-storage) was successful. The aortic flow displayed during Langendorff mode should be between 14 - 22 mL/min. Langendorff flow is displayed as a negative value on the flow meter due to the retrograde perfusion of the aorta. An example of an acceptable Langendorff trace is shown in Figure 4A.
Once switched to working mode, the aortic flow should be at least 30 mL/min once the ...

We describe an ex vivo isolated working rat heart protocol to test donor heart preservation strategies. This paper describes the protocol for use in static cold storage of rodent donor hearts; however, the protocol can also be used for donor hearts obtained after donation after circulatory death and brain death.

Optimization of donor heart preservation solutions has played a key role in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in donor hearts during organ retrieval, ...

using-an-isolated-working-rat-heart-model-to-test-donor-heart

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Isolation of Rat Heart for Testing Donor Heart Preservation Methods

To begin, place an anesthetized rat in a supine position. Secure the limbs of the animal with tape. Then fix a nose cone over the animal to administer oxygen.Soak sterile gauze in a container with Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Place the soaked gauze on ice. After making a lateral incision across the abdomen, move the stomach and intestines to allow access to the left renal vein.Inject heparin and apply pressure to the injection site until the bleeding stops. After letting the heparin circulate for a couple of minutes, cut through the rib cage on either side and across the diaphragm to completely open the chest cavity. Carefully lift the heart-lung block, and cut along the descending aorta, keeping the aortic arch intact.Transfer the heart-lung block to the Krebs-Henseleit buffer ice slush to arrest the heart.

Testing Donor Heart Preservation Strategies on a Rat Heart Using Perfusion Circuits

To begin, place a freshly excised rat heart lung block on a gauze sheet over ice. Dissect the excess fat around the aorta. Then trim the aorta, leaving about three to five millimeters for cannulation.Make a one to two millimeter long incision in the pulmonary artery. Place the trimmed heart lung block on ice directly underneath the cannulas. Next, use a flow control tubing clamp to adjust the flow from the Langendorff side for aorta cannulation.Carefully cannulate the aorta onto the left cannula. Hold it with a black clamp and tie it with a 2/0 silk suture. Open the flow control tubing clamp completely to increase flow from the Langendorff perfusion.Then open the afterload clamp. Start monitoring heart activity with software. Adjust the heart lung block such that the anterior surface of the lungs faces the operator.Tie the left lung lobe with a 2/0 silk suture. Tie the remaining lung lobes in one sweep with a 2/0 silk suture. Then rotate the heart so that the tied lungs are towards the back.With a pair of small vannas scissors. Trim a two to three millimeter section of the left atrial appendage to create a small opening into the atria. Carefully cannulate the left atrial appendage to the left cannula.Hold it with a black clamp and tie it with a 2/0 silk suture. Adjust the heart chamber water jacket so that the heart sits within the center of the chamber. Now open the pressure transducer to air.Select aortic pressure in the software. Then click on bridge amp, followed by zero and OK to zero the pressure transducer. Perfuse the heart in Langendorff mode for 10 minutes.Next, transfer the air stone from the Langendorff Krebs-Henseleit buffer reservoir into the working Krebs-Henseleit buffer reservoir. Open the three-way tap leading from working perfusate. Close the large clamp leading to the aortic cannula and open the flow leading to the left atrial appendage to switch to working mode.Perfuse the heart in working mode for 15 minutes. Fill a cardioplegia chamber with 50 milliliters of the designated cardiac preservation solution. Lower the water jacket and close the three-way tap on the working mode side.Close the clamp to stop the flow towards the left atrial cannula. Then open the flow to the aortic cannula. Now close the clamp from the Langendorff side and on the afterload.Open the clamp from the cardioplegia line. Flush 15 milliliters of the cardioplegia solution out from the pressure line. Flush the heart with cardioplegia via the aortic cannula and collect the coronary effluent.After three minutes, close the cardioplegia clamp and the small blue clamp leading to the aortic cannula. Place a bulldog clamp on the aortic cannula and another bulldog clamp on the left cannula. Disconnect the heart cannula block from the circuit and place it in a beaker containing cardioplegia in an ice box.To reperfuse the heart after cold static storage, carefully secure the heart lung block after cold storage onto the perfusion circuit. Use a blunt end 18 gauge syringe filled with Krebs-Henseleit buffer to remove any air from the cannula. Connect the aortic cannula first.Then open the tubing clamp on the Langendorff side. Reconnect the left cannula and ensure that air has been removed from the cannula before connecting it to the perfusion circuit. Keep the working side clamp closed until it is time to switch from Langendorff to working mode.An aortic flow of 14 to 22 milliliters per minute resulted in a good Langendorff flow. When switched to working mode, an aortic flow of at least 30 milliliters per minute facilitated heart storage. Despite good baseline traces, some hearts did not yield good recovery after prolonged cold static storage.

237 Views.  Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.  We describe an ex vivo isolated working rat heart protocol to test donor heart preservation strategies. This paper describes the protocol for use in static cold storage of rodent donor hearts; however, the protocol can also be used for donor hearts obtained after donation after circulatory death and brain death. 

Optimization of Donor Heart Preservation Using a Working Rat Heart Perfusion Model

Summary