Langendorff Retrograde Heart Perfusion: An Ex Vivo Technique to Perfuse Isolated Mouse Heart

Abstract

Source: Wu, K. et al. Modifications of the Langendorff Method for Simultaneous Isolation of Atrial and Ventricular Myocytes from Adult Mice. J. Vis. Exp. (2021)

In this video, we perform Langendorff retrograde perfusion of an isolated mouse heart. During the procedure, the cardiac activity of the heart is maintained by perfusing it retrogradely with a perfusion solution via the coronary arteries using a cannula inserted into the ascending aorta. The model is used to study the cardiac pathophysiology of the heart.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board. 1. Solution and Perfusion Apparatus Preparation Assemble a constant flow Langendorff apparatus (commercially available or self-made). Figure 1 provides a simple schematic. Prepare the solutions according to the reagents given in Table 1 and Table …

Representative Results

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of an assembled modified Langendorff system. This system is economical and portable for the users. It has two parts of plastic tubing-one for the water (inner diameter, 8 mm) and one for the perfusate (inner diameter, 1.5 mm)-of which the distal end is connected to a PE medical three-way stopcock with a Luer lock. A glass bottle containing water an…

Materials

2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM)	Sigma-Aldrich	31550
CaCl2	Sigma-Aldrich	C4901
Glucose	Sigma-Aldrich	G7528
HEPES	Sigma-Aldrich	H3375
KCl	Sigma-Aldrich	P9333
KH2PO4	Sigma-Aldrich	P5655
KHCO3	Sigma-Aldrich	237205
MgCl2	Sigma-Aldrich	M8266
MgSO4	Sigma-Aldrich	M7506
Na2HPO4	Sigma-Aldrich	S7907
NaCl	Sigma-Aldrich	S7653
NaHCO3	Sigma-Aldrich	S5761
Peristaltic pump	Longerpump	BT100-2J
Taurine	Sigma-Aldrich	T0625
Water bath	JULABO	ED (v.2)