MOUSE ISOLATED PERFUSED HEART

CHARACTERISTICS AND CAUTIONS

Sutherland, Fiona J
Shattock, Michael J
Baker, Kathryn E
Hearse, David J

Cardiovascular Research, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK

Correspondence: Fiona J Sutherland, Cardiovascular Research, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK. Email: [email protected]

Presented at the Third International Mouse Symposium, Amsterdam, 13-15 March 2002. The papers in these proceedings have been peer reviewed.

^*Present address: Simbec Research Ltd, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, UK.

Received 23 July 2003; accepted 4 August 2003.

Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology 30(11):p 867-878, November 2003.

SUMMARY

1. Owing to the considerable potential for manipulating the murine genome and, as a consequence, the increasing availability of genetically modified models of cardiovascular diseases, the mouse is fast becoming a cornerstone of animal research. However, progress in the use of various murine preparations is hampered by the lack of facilities and skills for the adequate physiological assessment of genetically modified mice.

2. We have attempted to address this problem by refining and characterizing a mouse isolated heart preparation that was originally developed for use with larger hearts.

3. We used the isolated buffer-perfused Langendorff preparation (perfused at constant flow or constant pressure) to characterize: (i) the frequency–response characteristics; (ii) heart isolation conditions; (iii) perfusion chamber conditions; (iv) temperature–function relationships; (v) stability over extended periods of perfusion; (vi) perfusate calcium–function relationships; (vii) pressure–volume relationships; (viii) pressure–rate relationships; and (ix) flow–function relationships.