Microminipig,a non-rodent experimental animal optimized for life science research: in vivo proarrhythmia models of drug-induced long QT syndrome: Development of chronic atrioventricular block model of microminipig

A new in vivo proarrhythmia model of drug-induced long qt syndrome was developed using the microminipig,an incredibly small minipig established by fuji micra inc. (shizuoka). the atrioventricular (av) node of the microminipig of either sex weighing approximately 6-7 kg was ablated under halothane anesthesia,and proper care was taken for them. proarrhythmic effects of drugs were assessed at >2 months after the onset of av block using a holter recording system. oral administration of dl-sotalol (10 mg/kg) to the av-block microminipig prolonged the qt interval; moreover,it frequently induced dangerous ventricular premature beats,whereas no arrhythmia was detected after the vehicle administration (n = 4). such dl-sotalol-induced ventricular arrhythmias were not detected in the intact microminipig with sinus rhythm,although significant qt prolongation was observed (n = 4). thus,the sensitivity and specificity of the av-block microminipig for detecting the drug-induced long qt syndrome can be considered to be comparable to previously established av-block animal models of dogs and monkeys. © the japanese pharmacological society.