The Technique of Permanent Pericardial Catheter in Mice

Intrapericardial delivery offers a route for heart therapies. Mouse heart size and membrane thickness pose catheterization challenges, hampering pericardium-targeted treatments. The objectives were to develop a mouse surgical technique for pericardial catheter insertion and to assess its suitability for intrapericardial delivery, including use with a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model. We used successful catheter implantation in BALB/cJ and ΔdblGATA1 mice, showcasing intrapericardial delivery with fluorescent beads and eosinophils. We demonstrated a combination of pericardial catheterization with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model. A reliable catheterization technique, enabling intrapericardial delivery of therapeutic agents in mice provides a valuable tool for studying the pericardial space and mediastinum in basic and translational research.