OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of traditional transmyocardial laser revascularization (T-TMLR) and non-transmural myocardial laser revascularization (N-TMLR) on myocardial ischemic and necrotic areas and angiogenesis.

METHODSIn 30 rabbit models, Evans blue -TTC staining and HE staining were used for measuring ischemic and necrotic areas and observing angiogenesis.

RESULTSThe ischemic areas in the MI + T-TMLR (30.6 +/- 1.0)% and the MI + N-TMLR group (30.2 +/- 0.4)% were significantly decreased compared with the MI group (37.2 +/- 0.2)% (F = 21.04, P < 0.01). The necrotic areas in the MI + T-TMLR (17.0 +/- 0.7)% and the MI + N-TMLR group (16.9 +/- 0.6)% was not different from that in the MI group (17.9 +/- 0.5)% (F = 1.73, P > 0.05). The angiogenesis in the MI + T-TMLR (1.8) and the MI + N-TMLR (1.6) was significantly increased compared with that in the MI group (0.6) (F = 15.32, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMI + N-TMLR can achieve the same effects of MI + T-TMLR. Inducing angiogenesis via laser channels and decreasing ischemic area may be one of the predominant mechanisms of TMLR, whereas whether laser channels themselves are patent is not relation to the effects of TMLR.