Establishment of a Minimally Invasive Rat Model of Pulmonary Embolism Using Autologous Blood Clots

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death, resulting in a significant socioeconomic burden. Although current treatments primarily focus on anticoagulation and thrombolysis, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of its pathophysiology and the development of new treatment strategies. Animal models play a crucial role in understanding PE and developing new therapies for the disease, with rodents commonly used due to ethical and cost considerations. However, existing rodent models for PE are limited by a lack of standardized procedures, which hampers reproducibility and cross-study comparisons. This study aims to establish a minimally invasive rat model of PE using autologous blood clots. The model features a minimally invasive blood sampling technique, a standardized thrombus generation procedure, and minimally invasive vein access. Additionally, protocols for quantifying infarcted areas and visualizing the pulmonary arterial tree are provided. These procedures aim to improve the reliability of rodent models for studying PE progression and facilitate the development of novel treatments.