Reduced coronary reserve in response to short-term ischaemia and vasoactive drugs in ex vivo hearts from diabetic mice.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the coronary flow (CF) reserve of ex vivo perfused hearts from type 2 diabetic (db/db) and non-diabetic (db/+) mice.

Methods: The hearts were perfused in the Langendorff mode with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (37 degrees C, pH 7.4) containing 11 mmol L(-1) glucose as energy substrate.

Measurement of coronary flow reserve in isolated hearts from mice.

Aim: Langendorff-perfused murine hearts are increasingly used in cardiovascular research, but coronary cardiovascular haemodynamics vary considerably from one research group to another. The aim of this study was to establish an isolated, retrogradely perfused mouse heart preparation for the simultaneous measurement of left ventricular haemodynamics and of coronary flow (CF).

Methods: Heart rate was controlled by right atrial pacing (480 beats min(-1)) and heart temperature was kept constant.