title: Two-dimensional, M-mode and Doppler-derived echocardiographic parameters in sedated healthy growing female sheep.
abstract: Despite the fact that sheep are a widely used animal model in cardiovascular research, reference values for transthoracic echocardiography in normal growing animals are not available. Eight healthy female lambs underwent two-dimensional, M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic examination at 100 days of age and every three months thereafter over a 12-month period. The study was conducted under sedation with midazolam, butorphanol and constant rate infusion of intravenous propofol. Their growth phase was completed at about one year of age. All the echocardiographic parameters considered were significantly correlated with body weight and age class except for the left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters. Functional indices were not correlated to body weight or age except for the E-point to septal separation distance (EPSS). Doppler-derived parameters were not influenced by independent variables. Transthoracic echocardiography can be considered an applicable method for cardiovascular research using a growing lamb animal model after appropriate adjustments for age and body size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. helen.poser@unipd.it
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poser
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Semplicini
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: De Benedictis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerardi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Contiero
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maschietto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Milanesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semplicini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernardini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012016:Reference Values; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002077:Butorphanol; D008874:Midazolam; D015742:Propofol
keywords: cardiovascular investigation; echocardiography; growth; sheep; ultrasound