Flow Cytometric Evaluation of the Ongoing Angiogenic Response in Rat Cardiac Tissue Following Myocardial Infarction

Angiogenesis is involved in regeneration of cardiac tissue following acute myocardial infarction (MI), a disease often investigated in rat models. Therefore, the ability to thoroughly evaluate the angiogenic response following experimentally induced MI in rats, and distinguish it from inflammation, is desired. This would enable evaluation of the angiogenic potential of new therapeutics and improve knowledge on MI pathophysiology. Due to the complex response to MI involving multiple cell types and the limited selection of rat-specific antibodies, careful optimization is crucial to capture this complexity. Here, we present an 8-color flow cytometry-based multicolor panel that will enable quantification of the ongoing angiogenic response as well as characterize the cells involved. A detailed description of tissue preparation, immunostaining, and gating strategy is provided.