Unravelling mechanisms underlying ischaemic arrhythmias - the importance of models

A new model of regional ischaemia using blood-perfused isolated rat hearts is reported in this issue. This model has potential value in pharmacology to test the actions of drugs against the arrhythmias that arise early period (0-30 min) after induction of ischaemia. Unfortunately, the severity of arrhythmias in this new model is reduced, when compared to other models, in both the early and the late period (1-4 h) of coronary artery occlusion. This commentary compares the new model with previous models, and comments on the possible mechanisms of arrhythmias induced by ischaemia.