isolated HEART system

The isolatedHEART system is a versatile solution to investigate small mammalian heart function, in health and disease, or following drug challenges. It provides highly reproducible experimental conditions to ensure survival of the isolated heart during several hours, allowing the simultaneous assessment of cardiac electrophysiological and mechanical parameters (ECG, LVP, perfusion flow & pressure, etc.).
Benefits
Modular
Easy to use
Highly reproducible
Description
Modular
The same system can be used in either Langendorff or Working Heart Mode. While designed for mice and rat hearts, the system can be adapted for use with rabbits and guinea pigs as well. Multiple perfusion head designs and bubble trap sizes facilitate this adaptation across species. Various ports for instrumentation and injections are present, including electrical stimulation for pacing. Users can perfuse up to three physiological liquids. The three easily configurable perfusion mode options controlled through our automated pressure flow regulator include:
- Constant flow in aorta (Langendorff mode)
- Constant pressure in aorta (Langendorff mode)
- Constant pressure in atria, with post charge in aorta (working heart mode)
Easy to use
Over thirty years of Langendorff experience, emka has optimized a user-friendly interface capable of a simple transition between Langendorff and Working Heart Mode. This fully integrated system includes organized, easily accessible, and clearly labeled tubing. A sliding door opens the heart chamber that has heated walls, and limited dead volume provides optimal temperature regulation.
Highly reproducible
The ex vivo nature of an isolatedHEART study gives researchers complete environmental control (i.e. temperature, pressure, flow, perfusate, etc.) while removing the normal homeostatic regulation. This system provides nutrients and oxygen to the organ after its removal from the animal. It allows for the addition of drugs (via the perfusate) and observation of their effect on the organ without the complications involved with in vivo experimentation, such as neuronal and hormonal effects from living animal. Additionally, the researcher can control many parameters such as perfusate composition, pressure, flow, and oxygenation to create various conditions (i.e. anoxia, hypoxia, hypo/hypertensive). Obtained measurements are highly reproducible and easy to analyze.

Langendorff vs Working heart perfusion
In the Langendorff heart perfusion mode, the perfusate is pumped through the aorta towards the heart. It does not enter the left ventricle, but is diverted into the coronary arteries.
This mode permits the study of heart contraction, heart rate and vascular effects. It is ideal for the study of intraventricular pressure, cardiac contractility and relaxation, ECG and coronary flow.
Outcomes:
- Perfusion flow (coronary)
- Perfusion pressure
- Left ventricular pressure by latex balloon
- Temperature
- ECG with or without pacing, Intracardiac ECG/stimulation
- pH, pO2
- MAP, VAP (with contact micro electrodes)
- Pressure-volume loops
.
In the working heart perfusion mode, the flow of perfusate mimics the flow of blood in situ. The perfusate enters the left atrium via the pulmonary vein, is pumped into the left ventricle, from where it is pumped into the aorta, against a resistance that mimics the global resistance of the body.
As the name implies, this technique allows the heart to perform its physiological pumping action, i.e. it performs pressure/volume work. Therefore it provides a complete analysis of heart function and can be used for the study of cardiac metabolism, long-term pathology or ischemia-reperfusion.
Outcomes:
- Perfusion flow (coronary and aortic)
- Perfusion pressure (veinous atrial pressure)
- Afterload pressure (mimic the load created by the complete artery network)
- Left ventricular pressure by PTFE catheter
- Temperature
- ECG with or without pacing, Intracardiac ECG/stimulation
- pH, pO2
- MAP, VAP (with contact micro electrodes)
- Atrial flow with Transonic flowmeter
- Pressure-volume loops


Applications
Valvular heart disease, Pulmonary hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, Heart Rate Variability and more
Related publications
Klotho protein contributes to cardioprotection during ischaemia/reperfusion injury
Agnieszka Olejnik et al, J Cell Mol Med, 2020
Assessment of Multiple Positive Controls in the Langendorff Isolated Heart Assay and How They Translate to Whole Animal
Tyler Ardrey et al, poster presented at the Safety Pharmacology Society, 2018
Study of Intrinsic Cardiac Dysfunction in Septic Shock Conditions by Isolated Working Heart: A Primary Approach before New Therapeutic Proposals?
Marine Ferron et al, SM Emergency Medicine and Critical Care , 2017, 1 (3)
PK and Cardiac Assessment in Rats Administered Doxorubicin
Kim A. Henderson et al, poster presented at SPS in Prague, 2015
Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Conditioning Protects against I/R Injury
Dariusz Bialy et al, BioMed Research International, 2014
Concomitant genetic ablation of L‑type Cav1.3 (α1D) and T‑type Cav3.1 (α1G) Ca2+ channels disrupts heart automaticity
Baudot, M., Torre, E., Bidaud, I. et al. Sci Rep 10, 18906 (2020)