Figure 1.
Coronary angiography to detect vessel closure in operated pigs induced by ameroid constrictor.
The pericardium was opened and a 2.5-mm ameroid constrictor (A, B) was implanted around the left circumflex coronary artery (C). Representative images show x-ray angiographs from the left coronary system in pig hearts at one (D), two (E), and four (F) weeks, post-surgery. Arrow depicts the ameroid constrictor.
Figure 2.
Analysis of cardiac troponin I and B-natriuretic peptide levels in plasma of operated pigs.
Analysis of cardiac troponin I (cTnI, A) and B-natriuretic peptide (BNP, B) plasma levels in operated pigs at baseline (a), 30 days (b) and 60 days (c) post-surgery. *P<0.05 versus baseline level.
Figure 3.
Representative color Doppler views of the pig heart following surgery.
A: Representative long-axis view of the heart. The arrow depicts regurgitated blood. B: Motion shifts in the ventricular tissue. Green area depicts the uncoordinated area of myocardial motion.
Figure 4.
Analysis of left ventricular dimensions in operated pigs by echocardiography.
Representative apical long-axis views of the four chambers in the pig heart by two-dimensional echocardiography – (i) before surgery, (ii) immediately after surgery, (iii) one week after surgery, (iv) two weeks after surgery, (v) four weeks after surgery and (vi) eight weeks after surgery. *, left atrial; ▿, left ventricular.
Table 1.
Regurgitation parameters in operated pig hearts.
Table 2.
Cardiac dimensions and function in operated pigs.
Figure 5.
MRI analysis of operated pig hearts.
A: Representative long-axis view of the left ventricle; B: Blood flow analysis in the same MRI plane; C: Representative short-axis view of the mitral valve. Arrow depicts regurgitation aperture of the mitral valve. Circle depicts regurgitation of blood.
Figure 6.
Histopathological analyses of the myocardium in operated pigs.
A: H&E analysis of heart sections from operated pigs revealed compensatory thickening of the left ventricle and myocyte disarray. B: Masson trichrome stain of heart sections from operated pigs revealed left atrial fibrosis. Note the significant endocardial fibrosis. C&D: Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed contraction bands and edema surrounding the ischemic area as well as inflammatory cell infiltration (8000×).