The in-situ pig heart with regional ischemia/reperfusion - Ready for translation

► The temporal and spatial development of myocardial infarction in pigs resembles that in humans. ► The pig heart with regional ischemia/reperfusion has an intra-individual remote control zone. ► Precise control of coronary blood flow and sequential sampling of biopsies is possible. ► Hibernation, ischemic and remote pre- and postconditioning have been demonstrated in pig hearts. ► Cardioprotective signaling in pigs differs in part from that in rodents.