Abstract: Objective To establish and assess a mouse model of post-infarct cardiac rupture to characterize pathogenesis of ventricular rupture. Methods One hundred and forty male C57BL mice were randomized into 4 groups - sham operated，high, middle and low level ligation group based on location of occlusion left coronary artery and underwent open-chest surgery to induce myocardial infarction （MI）. The time-window，location and incidence of ventricular rupture were observed during 7 days postinfarct.Hemodynamics, gross and histological examinations were undertaken after 7 days following MI. Results The time-window of left ventricular rupture was at 2-6 days after MI.Incidence of rupture in mice of middle level ligation group was significantly high than other groups （P＜0.05）. The infarct size of high level ligation group was significantly high than other groups （P＜0.05）. The high ligation group mice had worse hemodynamics compared with SH and other groups（P<0.05）.The pathological examination indicated that score of intramural hemorrhage and accumulation of inflammatory cells in middle ligation group was significantly high than other groups （P＜0.05）. Conclusions The mouse post-infarct cardiac rupture model were stable and reliable, and may be used for experiment research of post-infarct ventricular rupture.

Key words: Myocardial infarction, Mouse, Cardiac rupture