title: M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic reference values for male New Zealand white rabbits.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Patrícia N
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fontes-Sousa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brás-Silva
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Areias
authors.forename: Adelino F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leite-Moreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values