Temporal response of monocytes during progressive coronary artery occlusion (1071.7)

Elevated levels of circulating monocytes (MCs) have been correlated with collateral development in coronary artery disease patients. The aim of this study was to employ a model of progressive coronary artery occlusion (CO), in order to compare the temporal response of MC upregulation in the systemic circulation vs. their infiltration into ischemic myocardium. An ameroid constrictor was implanted on the left coronary artery of New Zealand White rabbits (CO after 7-10 days). Peripheral blood MCs were isolated, fluorescently labelled and administered intravenously, 9 (n=4),16 (n=4) or 28 (n=5) days after surgery. Coronary vessels were perfused with fluorescent cast. Hearts were processed with an imaging cryomicrotome, generating 3D reconstructions of the vascular network and MCs. Peripheral blood MCs increased 83.47±55.18% 9 days after CO surgery, while 16 and 28 days after CO surgery showed 39.96±65.27 and -13.82±24.17 % change, respectively. MC subset ratios (classical/non-classical) showed the largest per...