M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic reference values for male New Zealand white rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To determine M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic reference values in healthy New Zealand white rabbits.


METHODS
52 healthy male rabbits.


METHODS
The rabbits were anesthetized and M-mode measurements of the left ventricle, left atrium, and aorta and Doppler measurements of pulmonary and aortic outflow and mitral inflow were recorded.


RESULTS
Mean +/- SD heart rate during echocardiographic examination was 155 +/- 29 beats/min. Mean +/- SD measurements in diastole and systole for the interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular internal diameter, and left ventricular free wall thickness were 2.03 +/- 0.37 mm and 3.05 +/- 0.45 mm; 14.37 +/- 1.49 mm and 10.25 +/- 1.22 mm; and 2.16 +/- 0.25 and 3.48 +/- 0.55 mm, respectively. Mean +/- SD left atrial-to-aortic diameter ratio was 1.17 +/- 0.14, and mean +/- SD mitral valve E-point-to-septal separation interval was 1.71 +/- 0.29 mm. Mean +/- SD for fractional shortening and ejection fraction were 30.13 +/- 2.98% and 61.29 +/- 4.66%, respectively. Mean +/- SD maximal aortic and pulmonary artery outflow velocities were 0.85 +/- 0.11 m/s and 0.59 +/- 0.10 m/s, respectively, and the peak E-to-peak A wave velocity ratio of the mitral valve was 2.19 +/- 0.46.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide echocardiographic reference values for young adult male New Zealand white rabbits anesthetized with ketamine and medetomidine. Values obtained from unanesthetized rabbits, rabbits sedated with other agents, or rabbits of different size may differ from those reported here.
Fontes-Sousa
Ana Patrícia N
AP
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
Brás-Silva
Carmen
C
Moura
Cláudia
C
Areias
José Carlos
JC
Leite-Moreira
Adelino F
AF
D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values