Experimental estimation of chronic microsphere loss from the rat myocardium

The aim of this paper was to determine the loss of isotope-labelled microspheres from the rat myocardium under chronic experimental conditions. The method of heterotopic transplantation of the heart from a donor which had received injections of microspheres was used for the first time. The extent of microsphere loss was calculated on the basis of two measurements of the number of microspheres in the heart graft: before transplantation and after 5-24 days in the recipient. Male Wistar rats were used. Scandium 46 was used as the label and the microsphere total was determined with a gamma counter.