Background: In recent years, due to technical and economic considerations much of the experimental work is carried out on small laboratory animals such as mice and rats. In addition, researchers have to use mainly one-stage methods of MI modeling, which rely on vessel ligation. Objective: The aim of the study was to create a simple model of experimental myocardial infarction (MI) to examine the effect of medications on its development and course. Methods: Acute MI in rats was induced by left coronary artery ligation. Animals were taken out of the experiment at days 1, 5 or 7. Myocardium of all heart parts was morphologically studied after embedding. In addition to visual assessment there was a light-optical examination of infraction and peri-infarction myocardial areas, as well as left ventricular areas distant from the damaged tissues. Serum activity of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), isoenzymes 1 and 2, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH1-2) before and in the process of MI development was investigated (at days 1, 5 and 7). Results: Based on the study results, in animals with MI model standard level of affecting the coronary artery was determined, as well as similar amount of ischemic myocardial tissues; and histomorphological findings confirmed standard development of transmural MI. Meanwhile, staging of MI development in rodents correlated with other authors' data. Conclusions: Thus, the presented method of experimental MI modeling is relatively simple for use and provides a high level of reproducibility of results. In addition, it's not associated with risks of developing cardiac rhythm disturbances, provides 100 % survival rate of experimental animals and can be used for laboratory studies on larger groups of small laboratory animals.