In vivo echocardiographic detection of cardiovascular lesions in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice using a novel high-frequency high-speed echocardiography technique.
Apolipoprotein E-knockout (apoE-KO) mice have been used for studying atherogenesis, but the in vivo features including cardiovascular function have not yet been reported. This study aimed to noninvasively evaluate cardiovascular lesions in 6 apoE-KO mice and 6 control (C57BL/6) mice using transthoracic echocardiography performed using an originally developed linear scanner that permits a high-speed scan with wideband high-frequency ultrasound. Two independent observers evaluated and scored the degree of atherosclerotic changes in the aortic root from 2-dimensional long-axis and short-axis images. M-mode measurements included left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd), posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), fractional shortening, aortic root dimension and rate of systolic expansion of the aorta (%SEAo). The wall thickness of the aortic root was measured from the serial histological sections. Significant differences between apoE-KO and C57BL/6 mice were found in the atherosclerotic score, %SEAo, LVDd and LVPWT. The atherosclerotic score and %SEAo were significantly correlated with the aortic wall thickness. Transthoracic echocardiography with a high-frequency ultrasound system can detect atherosclerotic lesions and the decreased distensibility of the ascending aorta, as well as secondary changes in left ventricular geometry, in apoE-KO mice.
Onozuka
Hisao
H
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Fujii
Satoshi
S
Mikami
Taisei
T
Yamada
Satoshi
S
Ishimori
Naoki
N
Shimizu
Toshihiro
T
Furumoto
Tomoo
T
Nakai
Yukihito
Y
Komuro
Kaoru
K
Nishihara
Keiko
K
Okamoto
Hiroshi
H
Kitabatake
Akira
A
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D001057:Apolipoproteins E