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Can Rats and Pigs Help Mend Damaged Hearts?

porcine cells

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the US today and patients that survive a myocardial infarction have a low five year survival rate. Therefore there is a great need for regenerative approaches for stimulating repair.

Gene electro transfer (GET) to the left ventricular myocardium is a promising technique for delivery of therapeutic genes for the treatment of ischemia, myocardial infarction and heart failure directly to the effected myocardium. In this study a small animal model (rat) and a porcine model were used for gene delivery to non-ischemic and ischemic left ventricular myocardium.

Gene expression was evaluated histologically for location of expression within the myocardium as well as quantitatively via ELISA.  These animal models allow for the evaluation of therapeutic potential of particular gene delivery as well as translation to clinical settings.

— From Gene Electro Transfer to Left Ventricular Myocardium in Rat and Porcine Models by A.A. Bulysheva, B. Hargrave, N. Burcus, C.G. Lundberg, L. Murray, and R. Heller

 Past studies using pig models have given researchers new insights into cancer treatment and detection.

At Animal Biotech, we’re proud to be a part of this kind of work. For more than two decades, we have worked with the biomedical research community by supplying it with post-mortem animal tissues, as well as information and consultation. Contact us today to find out how we can assist you in your work.