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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013; 61(08): 718-725
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1326775
Original Cardiovascular
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Echocardiography Alone Allows the Determination of Heart Failure Stages in Rats with Pressure Overload

Yasushige Shingu
1   Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
,
Paulo A. Amorim
2   Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Leipzig Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany
,
T. Dung Nguyen
3   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
,
Moritz Osterholt
3   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
,
Michael Schwarzer
3   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
,
Torsten Doenst
3   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

12 April 2012

06 July 2012

Publication Date:
23 January 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Background There is currently no standard for the assessment of contractile function in animals. We aimed to determine whether transthoracic echocardiography in rats with chronic pressure overload allows determining the stage of hypertrophy and heart failure (HF).

Methods Pressure overload was created by placement of a metal clip around the thoracic aorta at a weight of 40 to 50 g. After 1, 2, 6, 10, and 20 weeks, we performed echocardiography according to the American Heart Association guidelines (n = 26, four to six rats for each time point). We also obtained heart, lung, and body weights and regularly evaluated clinical signs of HF.

Results Pressure overload caused significant hypertrophy within 1 week. Contractile function was normal until 6 weeks when diastolic dysfunction appeared. After 10 weeks of pressure overload, systolic function decreased. At 20 weeks, hearts were dilated and cardiac index was decreased. These findings correlated with increased lung-to-body weight ratio after 6 weeks and clinical signs of HF after 20 weeks.

Conclusion Echocardiography alone allows the reproducible determination of HF stages after aortic constriction in rats.

Keywords

heart failure - echocardiography - myocardial remodeling
 

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