An automatic device for the isolated rabbit heart preparation for testing cardioactive drugs

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Manual perfusion of isolated rabbit hearts is labor-intensive and prone to variability.
• Reproducible and stable preparations are crucial for accurate pharmacological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an automated device for perfusing isolated rabbit hearts.
• To assess the system's ability to provide stable and reproducible experimental conditions.
• To evaluate the system's performance in a pharmacological context using caffeine.

Main Methods:

• An automated perfusion system utilizing a programmable unit to control valve sequences and timing.
• Constant flow-rate perfusion of test solutions from reservoirs.
• Pressure measurement as a real-time indicator of preparation stability.

Main Results:

• The automated device successfully maintained stable perfusion and yielded reproducible results.
• Caffeine administration resulted in a dose-dependent increase in heart rate and force of contraction.
• The system eliminated the need for tedious, repetitive manual operations.

Conclusions:

• The developed automated device offers a reliable and efficient method for isolated rabbit heart studies.
• This system enhances experimental reproducibility and reduces manual labor in pharmacological research.
• The device is suitable for investigating the effects of various test solutions on cardiac function.