ISOLATED HEART
ACTIVITY OF RABBIT
Dr Kashif Iqbal
The Langendorff heart or isolated
perfused heart
The Langendorff heart or isolated perfused
heart assay is a predominant in vitro technique
used in pharmacological and physiological research
using animals.
It allows the examination of cardiac contractile
strength and heart rate without the complications of
an intact animal.
This is a useful preparation because it allows the
addition of drugs (via the perfusate) and observation
of their effect on the heart without the complications
involved with in vivo experimentation, such as
neuronal and hormonal effects from living animal.
Coronary perfusion
A mammalian heart continue to beat for
long period provided with its
requirements fulfilled regularly
Its requirements are
Energy source
Electrolytes
Oxygen
Temperature
Provision of requirements
Lock’ssolution :Provide Energy source and
Electrolytes
Oxygen cylinder :Provide Oxygen
Thermostat : Maintains temperature
Procedure
Prepare fresh Lock’s solution
Take 200 ml lock’s solution in beaker and
pour few drops of heparin into it
Rabbit is stunned and chest cavity is
opened quickly and heart is removed by
cutting vena cava and aorta by sufficient
length so that it could be easily
connected to glass cannula of
Langendorff heart Perfusion
apparatus.
Heart is placed in beaker containing lock’s
solution and heparin.
Slightly press and relax so that if any blood clot
is there it may be removed from vascular
channels
Take the heart out of beaker and insert glass
cannula into lumen of aorta
Tie a thread around aorta to keep heart
hanging from cannula
Wait some time and let the heart gain its
normal contraction and relaxation
Pierce a fine pin into ventricle and tie a thread to
pin and tie other end of thread to lever of pen of
kymograph or force transducer of Power lab.
Now observe the ionotropic and chronotropic
effects of different stimuli;
Temperature:
Adrenaline:+ve
Acetylcholine:_ve
Anoxia: gradually become weaker and stopped
Calcium gluconate and sodium chloride
Power lab accessories for measuring
heart activity
Precautions
Handle heart gently
Insert pin gently it should not damage muscles
Insert hook only when experiment is to be
started
Vertical position is abnormal there loosen
thread after some recording to give rest
Use ringer’s solution frequently
Lock’s solution components must be measured
accurately
Solution should be fresh