RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore a new method of establishing acute myocardial infarction model in diabetic miniature pigs through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: Seven normal miniature pigs and 7 diabetic miniature pigs underwent VATS by selectively ligating left anterior descending coronary artery and then were evaluated through serology, imaging and histology. RESULTS: The serum levels of troponin (cTni) and myoglobin (MYO) in both groups significantly increased by over 10 folds of upper normal limit after VATS. Echocardiography, MRI and histopathologic analysis showed that the affected myocardial parts were apex, left ventricular wall and interventricular septum cosco section. But heart function of diabetic miniature pigs were relatively lower; infarction area/area-at-risk ratio higher (18.4% ± 5.5% vs 5.3% ± 3.9%, P = 0.03) , myocardial infarction through-wall degree more severe. These were in accordance with poor ischemic tolerance in diabetic myocardia. CONCLUSION: VATS is a safe and effective method for establishing AMI model in diabetic miniature pigs.