Measure for measure-determination of infarct size in murine models of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion: a systematic review.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/R) is one of the most prominent topics of contemporary research. The frequent failure of potential therapeutic drugs and interventions to transfer to clinical practice demonstrates the limitations in using experimental animal models. Because a variety of transgenic animals are readily available in mice, researchers in recent years have made use of murine models rather than of larger animal models for experimental MI/R. This review focuses on in vivo and ex vivo murine models of MI/R and aims to characterize the source of our mechanistic understanding in mice. A systematic review of the literature demonstrated that there is great diversity among ex vivo (Langendorff) and in vivo models of MI/R.