title: Comparative analysis of heart functions in micropigs and conventional pigs using echocardiography and radiography.
abstract: The production of miniature animals has been suggested for use in organ transplantation. At present, many of the studies about application of animal organs to human have been focused on pigs because of the number of advantages involved and due to their similarities with human. However, a physiological analysis of the organs to be transplanted has not yet been carried out. Therefore, this study analyzed whether or not there were physiological and morphological differences in the hearts of conventionallyreared pigs and micropigs. In this study, the morphological and physiological functions of the heart were examined using radiographic and echocardiographic equipment. In the lateral radiographic view, the heart of the micropig has a larger cardiac long axis : short axis ratio than does the conventional pig, but the difference in the vertebral heart score was not significant. In addition, there were no morphological differences on the X-ray fluoroscopic view. There were no differences in echocardiographic values, except for several values in the left ventricle traces. Overall, it is expected that the values measured in this study will contribute to understanding of the physiological characteristics of micropigs.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Biotherapy Human Resources Center (BK21), Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Gon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chai Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kye Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sang Yub
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Young Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ho Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature