Translation of Methodology Used In Human Myocardial Imaging to a Sheep Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Introduction: Pre-clinical investigation of stem cells for repairing damaged myocardium predominantly uses rodents, however large animals have cardiac circulation closely resembling the human heart. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) could be used for assessing sheep myocardium following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) and response to intervention.

Methods: Eighteen sheep were enrolled in a pilot study to evaluate [(99m)Tc]-sestamibi MPI at baseline, post-MI and after therapy.