Precision Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Using Anatomical Landmarks in a Murine Myocardial Infarction Model

Linshen Mao; Houping Xu; Yan Wei; Li Dong; Jinhui Jiang; Qingyu Zhang; Ping Liu; Zhenzhou Li; Mengnan Liu; Gang Luo

doi:10.3791/72336

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Method Article

Precision Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Using Anatomical Landmarks in a Murine Myocardial Infarction Model

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DOI:

10.3791/72336

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August 18th, 2026

Linshen Mao^*¹^,² , Houping Xu^*¹^,² , Yan Wei^*³ , Li Dong¹^,² , Jinhui Jiang¹^,⁴ , Qingyu Zhang¹^,⁴ , Ping Liu¹^,⁴ , Zhenzhou Li¹^,⁴ , Mengnan Liu¹^,² , Gang Luo¹^,²

¹Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, ²National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, ³Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province (Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases), ⁴School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Southwest Medical University

^* These authors contributed equally

Summary

This protocol induces myocardial infarction in mice by permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation using the anterior interventricular sulcus as a reproducible surface landmark for precise suture placement. Infarction is validated by electrocardiography, echocardiography, histological staining, and serum biomarker analysis.

Abstract

Permanent ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery is the most widely used approach for establishing mouse models of myocardial infarction (MI) in preclinical cardiovascular research. In conventional protocols, however, the ligation site is typically placed 1–2 mm below the left atrial appendage, a landmark that is often difficult to identify reliably during surgery. Combined with considerable inter-individual variability in murine coronary anatomy, this frequently results in imprecise LAD localization, inconsistent ligation sites, and reduced reproducibility between operators. To address these limitations, this protocol introduces the anterior interventricular sulcus (AIS) as a guiding landmark for LAD ligation. The AIS is a shallow surface groove that is directly visible under the microscope, with the LAD running immediately beneath it. Unlike conventional approaches, it provides a stable anatomical reference that supports more consistent selection of the ligation site and is easier for inexperienced operators to identify. The protocol combines standardized isoflurane inhalation anesthesia with non-invasive tracheal intubation and validates MI using electrocardiography, echocardiography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), histopathological staining, and three-dimensional coronary artery imaging. This protocol provides a reliable and reproducible experimental method for inducing MI in mice to investigate the pathophysiological and immune changes following MI.

Introduction

Myocardial infarction (MI), one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide, poses a substantial threat to human health¹. Characterized by an abrupt onset, a critical clinical course, and a high fatality rate, MI is primarily caused by thrombotic occlusion of the coronary arteries and may lead to profound myocardial ischemia, subsequent cardiomyocyte necrosis, and a cascade of complications, including arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death². Despite notable advances in clinical cardiology, limited access to human myocardial tissue continues to impede investigation of the underl....