A New Ex-Vivo Working Heart Model without Ischemia-Reperfusion Damage to Analyze Electrophysiological Properties of a Denervated Heart

Electrophysiological properties of a denervated transplanted heart are not well evaluated to date. Electrophysiological studies are often performed using conventional Langendorff circulations or in-vivo studies. Limitations of in-vivo models include the difficulty accessing the left atrium between the pulmonary veins. In the well-established technique of Langendorff perfusion damages to the myocardium may arise from inevitable ischemia-reperfusion injury and often the presence of cutting and suture lines at the left atrium. Therefore, we developed an ex-vivo working pig heart model without ischemia-reperfusion injury.