OBJECTIVETo assess a minipig model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) established by percutaneous balloon occlusion using delayed-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI).

METHODSA minipig model of AMI was established by placement of a 2.0 mm×15.0 mm percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon in the middle left anterior descending artery (LAD) through a percutaneous femoral puncture in the right inguinal region. The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded for 90 min, followed by assessment of the infarct size and cardiac function with DE-MRI, and the results were confirmed by pathological examination.

RESULTSDE-MRI showed a mean infarcts size of 10.2∓2.9 cm3 in the minipig models. Compared to the control group, the minipigs with AMI had significantly increased end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (P<0.05) with a decreased stroke volume, ejection fraction and cardiac output (P<0.001). These DE-MRI values were matched with the microsphere values obtained from short-axis slices in pathological examination.

CONCLUSIONWe have established a feasible approach for evaluating minipig models of AMI as a platform for assessing the therapeutic effect of stem cell transplantation for AMI.