High-Frequency Ultrasound Assessment of the Murine Heart From Embryo Through to Juvenile

• Published in: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 147 - 157
• Main Authors: Corrigan, Niamh, Brazil, Derek P., McAuliffe, Fionnuala M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2010; Springer International Publishing; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biological and medical sciences; Diastole - physiology; Echocardiography, Doppler - instrumentation; Echocardiography, Doppler - methods; Embryology; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Heart - embryology; Heart - growth & development; Heart - physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Medical sciences; Medicine & Public Health; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microscopy, Acoustic - instrumentation; Microscopy, Acoustic - methods; Myocardial Contraction - physiology; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Pregnancy; Reproductive Medicine; Stroke Volume - physiology; Systole - physiology; cardiac function; High frequency ultrasound; embryonic murine heart; Human; Heart; Sonography; Embryo; Cardiac performance; Gynecology; Rodentia; Obstetrics; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Adolescent; Echography; High frequency; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 1933-7191; 1933-7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1933719109348923

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the murine heart of normal embryos, neonates, and juveniles using high-frequency ultrasound. Methods: Diastolic function was measured with E/A ratio (E wave velocity/A wave velocity) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), systolic function with isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), percentage fractional shortening (FS %), percentage ejection fraction (EF %). Global cardiac performance was quantified using myocardial performance index (MPI). Results: Isovolumetric relaxation time remained stable from E10.5 to 3 weeks. Systolic function (ICT) improved with gestation and remained stable from E18.5 onward. Myocardial performance index showed improvement in embryonic life (0.82- 0.63) and then stabilized from 1 to 3 week (0.60-0.58). Percentage ejection fraction remained high during gestation (77%-69%) and then decreased from the neonate to juvenile (68%-51%). Conclusion: The ultrasound biomicroscope allows for noninvasive in-depth assessment of cardiac function of embryos and pups. Detailed physiological and functional cardiac function readouts can be obtained, which is invaluable for comparison to mouse models of disease.