The heterotopic heart transplantation in mice as a small animal model to study mechanical unloading - Establishment of the procedure, perioperative management and postoperative scoring.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unloading of failing hearts by left ventricular assist devices induces an extensive cardiac remodeling which may lead to a reversal of the initial phenotype-or to its deterioration. The mechanisms underlying these processes are unclear.

Hypothesis

Heterotopic heart transplantion (hHTX) is an accepted model for the study of mechanical unloading in rodents. The wide variety of genetically modified strains in mice provides an unique opportunity to examine remodeling pathways. However, the procedure is technically demanding and has not been extensively used in this area. To support investigators adopting this method, we present our experience establishing the abdominal hHTX in mice and describe refinements to the technique.

Methods

In this model, the transplant

SUBMITTER: Westhofen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6461225 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature