Models of myocardial ischemia

The heart is highly dependent on aerobic metabolism. Given the widespread occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis in the human, myocardial ischemia is a huge clinical problem. Myocardial ischemic is a molecular disease of cardiomyocytes, but also, as a consequence of reduced heart function, becomes a disease of the whole organism. Experimental models range from large animal models designed to mimic the human clinical situation, to gene modified mice, isolated hearts and cell cultures.

Section editor:Steve Pogwizd – University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA