Following the methodologies of Hou YL [36 (link)] and Kirihara Y [37 (link)] et al., anesthesia was induced in rats via intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/Kg atropine sulfate (Tianjin Jinyao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.). Dexmedetomidine (0.3 mg/kg body weight)/midazolam (4.0 mg/kg bw)/butorphanol (5.0 mg/kg bw) (Sigma) was then injected intraperitoneally ten minutes later. A 16G intravenous catheter (Introcan 16G, Braun Medical Co., Ltd., Germany) was used for endotracheal intubation of the animals and a rodent ventilator (HX-200, Chengdu Science and Technology Co., Ltd. Thailand Union) was used. After thoracotomy, the heart was exposed and the pericardium was stripped. Using the coronary vein as a landmark, the left atrial appendage was slightly elevated, and a 6/0 suture was inserted ∼2– 3 mm from the start of the left coronary artery anterior descending branch with a depth of 0.5 mm. The suture came out near the pulmonary artery cones and ligation was made. Electrocardiograms showing typical ST-segment elevation, white left ventricular anterior wall color and hypokinesia were all used to assess ligation success. Intramuscular penicillin at 200,000 U was injected for 3 days after the surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative mortality was less than 10%.
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