Characterization of microminipigas a laboratory animal for pharmacological study by analyzing bepridil-induced cardiovascular responses

Since microminipigis becoming attractive model for various cardiac electropharmacological applications, which may meet consideration of 3Rs. We characterized microminipigsby analyzing how multi-ionic channel inhibitor bepridil may affect their in situ hearts in comparison with dogs. Bepridil in doses of 0.3 and 3.0 mg/kg were intravenously administered over 10 min under halothane anesthesia (n = 4). Microminipigsmay be less sensitive for ICaTinhibition of bepridil, whereas they are more responsive to INa, IKrand IKssuppression than dogs. This information would help predict cardiovascular effects of a drug in patients with the remodeled hearts having similar electrophysiological profile to microminipigs.