Laboratory Animals > Laboratory Animals Online First > 10.1258/la.2007.06001e

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Review Article

Echocardiographic assessment of global left ventricular function in mice

Jörg Stypmann ^1 2 3 , Markus A Engelen ^1 4, Clemens Troatz ^3 5, Markus Rothenburger ⁶, Lars Eckardt ¹ and Klaus Tiemann ^3 5

¹ Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hospital of the University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, D-48149 Münster, Germany; ² Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, Central Project Group (ZPG 4a), Westfälische Wilhelms Universität, Münster, Germany; ³ Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 656, Project C3, Münster, Germany; ⁴ University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Medical Physiology, Utrecht, The Netherlands; ⁵ Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; ⁶ Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Münster, Münster, Germany

Correspondence to: Dr Med. Jörg Stypmann. Email: Stypmann{at}mednet.uni-muenster.de

Doppler-echocardiographic assessment of cardiovascular structure and function in murine models has developed into one of the most commonly used non-invasive techniques during the last decades. Recent technical improvements even expanded the possibilities. In this review, we summarize the current options to assess global left ventricular (LV) function in mice using echocardiographic techniques. In detail, standard techniques as structural and functional assessment of the cardiovascular phenotype using one-dimensional M-mode echocardiography, two-dimensional B-mode echocardiography and spectral Doppler signals from mitral inflow respective aortal outflow are presented. Further pros and contras of recently implemented techniques as three-dimensional echocardiography and strain and strain rate measurements are discussed. Deduced measures of LV function as the myocardial performance index according to Tei, estimation of the mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening, LV wall stress and different algorithms to estimate the LV mass are described in detail. Last but not least, specific features and limitations of murine echocardiography are presented. Future perspectives in respect to new examination techniques like targeted molecular imaging with advanced ultrasound contrast bubbles or improvement of equipment like new generation matrix transducers for murine echocardiography are discussed.

Key Words: Echocardiography • ultrasound • Doppler • tissue Doppler imaging • strain rate • left ventricular function • left ventricular mass • myocardial performance index • mouse • anaesthesia

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