Myocardial Infarction Model in Rodents

The MI model was created by ligation of the LAD coronary artery in male rats or mice at the matched age of 8–10 weeks as previously described and without reperfusion^{22 (link)}. Briefly, each animal was anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg). After complete anesthesia, animals were immobilized in the supine position on an operating table, intubated, and connected to a small-animal ventilator (MouseVent, Kent Scientific Corp., Torrington, CT, USA). Under fully-controlled ventilation, a thoracotomy was made in the left intercostal space between the third and fourth ribs, and the heart exposed by removal of the pericardium. The LAD coronary artery was permanently ligated using a 6–0 (for rats) or 7–0 (for mice) non-absorbable surgical suture, and the chest and skin immediately closed. Animals were finally removed from the ventilator and kept warm until completely revived. Animals with sham surgery were subjected to the same procedure without performing the LAD ligation step.