Myocardial infarction and heart failure are leading causes of the mortality worldwide. The NHP models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury are very unique for the evaluation of new therapeutics (particularly protein products and gene therapies) to clinical application devoid of inter-species variations.

KBI has various models of heart infarction and ischemic-reperfusion by blocking the left anterior descending (LAD) artery either permanently or temporarily (e.g. for 2-4 

hours). 

The cardiac injury of heart infarction and ischemic reperfusion can be monitored by the following techniques:

·  ST elevation (STEMI) in ECG, 

·  serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase iso-enzymes (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT), 

·  ultrasound (echocardiography) 

·  cardiac MRI 

·  terminal gross morphology and histopathology. 

Fig 1. Characteristics of myocardial infarction over time in monkeys after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by ligating of the left anterior descending artery. 

Fig 2. Changes in serum enzymes, echocardiography and cardiac MRI over time post-ischemia (4 hrs) reperfusion in monkeys.