Myocardial Infarction Model in Mice: Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Ligation

Abstract

Background: A stable and feasible animal model for myocardial infarction (MI) is of great significance for the research on MI treatment. This study clarified the establishment process of the mouse MI model, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the modeling procedure. Method: Male C57 mice were randomly divided into a sham group and a model group, with 10 mice in each group. In the sham group, after anesthesia, the chest skin was incised to expose the heart, which was briefly exteriorized and then rapidly returned to the thoracic cavity before suturing. In the model group, MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Subsequently, the 24-hour survival rate was recorded, heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram were measured, and myocardial infarct size was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Result: After modeling, the 24-hour survival rate of mice in the model group was 70%. There was no significant difference in heart rate between the model group and the sham group, while both diastolic and systolic blood pressures were higher in the model group compared to the sham group. Compared with the sham group, the model group exhibited ST segment elevation and T wave inversion on the electrocardiogram. TTC staining revealed no infarcted areas in the hearts of the sham group, whereas distinct pale infarcted areas were observed in the model group. Conclusion: The method of inducing myocardial ischemia and necrosis by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery of mice employed in this study proved to be a reliable approach for successfully establishing the model.