Multimodal functional cardiac MRI in creatine kinase-deficient mice reveals subtle abnormalities in myocardial perfusion and mechanics.
A decrease in the supply of ATP from the creatine kinase (CK) system is thought to contribute to the evolution of heart failure. However, previous studies on mice with a combined knockout of the mitochondrial and cytosolic CK (CK(-/-)) have not revealed overt left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to employ novel MRI techniques to measure maximal myocardial velocity (V(max)) and myocardial perfusion and thus determine whether abnormalities in the myocardial phenotype existed in CK(-/-) mice, both at baseline and 4 wk after myocardial infarction (MI). As a result, myocardial hypertrophy was seen in all CK(-/-) mice, but ejection fraction (EF) remained normal. V(max), however, was significantly reduced in the CK(-/-) mice [wild-type, 2.32 +/- 0.09 vs. CK(-/-), 1.43 +/- 0.16 cm/s, P < 0.05; and wild-type MI, 1.53 +/- 0.11 vs. CK(-/-) MI, 1.26 +/- 0.11 cm/s, P = not significant (NS), P < 0.05 vs. baseline]. Myocardial perfusion was also lower in the CK(-/-) mice (wild-type, 6.68 +/- 0.27 vs. CK(-/-), 4.12 +/- 0.63 ml/g.min, P < 0.05; and wild-type MI, 3.97 +/- 0.65 vs. CK(-/-) MI, 3.71 +/- 0.57 ml/g.min, P = NS, P < 0.05 vs. baseline), paralleled by a significantly reduced capillary density (histology). In conclusion, myocardial function in transgenic mice may appear normal when only gross indexes of performance such as EF are assessed. However, the use of a combination of novel MRI techniques to measure myocardial perfusion and mechanics allowed the abnormalities in the CK(-/-) phenotype to be detected. The myocardium in CK-deficient mice is characterized by reduced perfusion and reduced maximal contraction velocity, suggesting that the myocardial hypertrophy seen in these mice cannot fully compensate for the absence of the CK system.
Nahrendorf
Matthias
M
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik 1, Universität Würzburg, Josef Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Streif
Jörg U
JU
Hiller
Karl-Heinz
KH
Hu
Kai
K
Nordbeck
Peter
P
Ritter
Oliver
O
Sosnovik
David
D
Bauer
Lisa
L
Neubauer
Stefan
S
Jakob
Peter M
PM
Ertl
Georg
G
Spindler
Matthias
M
Bauer
Wolfgang R
WR
D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013113:Spin Labels; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
D013113:Spin Labels; D003402:Creatine Kinase