Rat Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Model to Investigate Unloading-Induced Myocardial Remodeling.

Fu, Alex Xuebin; Segiser, Adrian; Carrel, Thierry; Tevaearai, Hendrik; Most, Henriette (2016). Rat Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Model to Investigate Unloading-Induced Myocardial Remodeling. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 3(34), p. 34. Frontiers 10.3389/fcvm.2016.00034

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Unloading of the failing left ventricle in order to achieve myocardial reverse remodeling and improvement of contractile function has been developed as a strategy with the increasing frequency of implantation of left ventricular assist devices in clinical practice. But, reverse remodeling remains an elusive target, with high variability and exact mechanisms still largely unclear. The small animal model of heterotopic heart transplantation (hHTX) in rodents has been widely implemented to study the effects of complete and partial unloading on cardiac failing and non-failing tissue to better understand the structural and molecular changes that underlie myocardial recovery. We herein review the current knowledge on the effects of volume unloading the left ventricle via different methods of hHTX in rats, differentiating between changes that contribute to functional recovery and adverse effects observed in unloaded myocardium. We focus on methodological aspects of heterotopic transplantation, which increase the correlation between the animal model and the setting of the failing unloaded human heart. Last, but not least, we describe the late use of sophisticated techniques to acquire data, such as small animal MRI and catheterization, as well as ways to assess unloaded hearts under "reloaded" conditions. While giving regard to certain limitations, heterotopic rat heart transplantation certainly represents the crucial model to mimic unloading-induced changes in the heart and as such the intricacies and challenges deserve highest consideration. Careful translational research will further improve our knowledge of the reverse remodeling process and how to potentiate its effect in order to achieve recovery of contractile function in more patients.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Cardiovascular Disorders (DHGE) > Clinic of Heart Surgery
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Herz- und Gefässchirurgie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Herz- und Gefässchirurgie

UniBE Contributor:

Fu, Alex Xuebin, Segiser, Adrian, Carrel, Thierry, Tevaearai, Hendrik, Most, Henriette

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2297-055X

Publisher:

Frontiers

Language:

English

Submitter:

Daniela Huber

Date Deposited:

05 Dec 2016 11:14

Last Modified:

27 Feb 2024 14:28

Publisher DOI:

10.3389/fcvm.2016.00034

PubMed ID:

27807535

Uncontrolled Keywords:

heart failure animal model; heterotopic heart transplantation; myocardial recovery; myocardial unloading; reverse remodeling

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.90544

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/90544

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