Cardiac Ischemia Model for +Gz Using Miniature Swine and Baboons

Abstract

Military aircrew with minimal coronary artery disease (MCAD) may be restricted from flying high-performance aircraft due to possible ischemia during high 1 Gz . An animal model is presented to provide ischemia data for a more informed decision. There were 18 swine that were placed on a high cholesterol/high fat diet for up to 57 wk. Five control swine were maintained on a standard swine diet. Also, nine male baboons had a constrictor placed around the left anterior descending coronary artery. Two baboons were sham-operated controls. The unanesthetized swine and baboons were infused with Tc-99m at the end of 1 Gz exposure and scanned for myocardial perfusion. Five swine died unexpectedly before 1 Gz exposure with moderate-to-severe CAD. Dysrhythmias during 1 Gz were seen equally in both the control and experimental swine and in the baboons before and after stenosis, with or without propranolol. During 1 Gz, ECG ST-T wave changes suggesting ischemia were observed in the cholesterol swine but not the control swine, and in the baboons before and after stenosis, with or without propranolol. There was a positive relationship between a normal/abnormal ECG and a normal/abnormal myocardial perfusion scan in the swine and a weak relationship in the baboon before stenosis, but somewhat better after stenosis. Coronary histopathology showed normal vessels from the control swine and stenoses ranging from 0-95% from the cholesterol swine. Baboon stenosis averaged 37.6 +/- 15.0%. In the swine and the baboon extended high levels of 1 Gz were associated with evidence of myocardial ischemia.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA519728

Entities

People

  • Edward J. Dick Jr.
  • Harold Davis
  • John W. Burns
  • John W. Fanton
  • Joseph Deering
  • Londe A. Richardson
  • Paul V. Celio
  • Thomas H. Loecker
  • William B. Kruyer

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Arteries
  • Blood
  • Cardiac Arrhythmias
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Cells
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Heart Rate
  • Lipids
  • Macrophages
  • Myocardial Ischemia
  • Standards
  • Veins

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology