Novel Ovine Model of Heart Failure Induced by Autologous Platelet Aggregates

Abstract

Introduction: There are several animal models using coronary occlusion that try to mimic ischemic heart failure (IHF). These techniques create infarctions by mechanical disruption of blood flow but lack the biomass of thrombus that occurs during plaque rupture that we see clinically. We propose a novel pre-clinical large animal model of cardiac failure developed by direct injections of autologous platelet aggregates (APAs) into the coronary circulation which results in IHF. Methods: Platelets were isolated from the whole ovine blood before embolization procedure (EP) and aggregated using thrombin.