(March 4, 2021) WEBINAR: Aortic acceleration as a noninvasive index of left ventricular contractility in the mouse

 

Overview:

 

Key topics covered during this webinar included:

  • Evaluating cardiac contractility using mean or peak aortic acceleration
  • Investigating cardiac relaxation using mitral peak early velocity to peak atrial velocity ratio
  • Interpreting myocardial perfusion capacity through coronary flow reserve at baseline and with disease or other conditions
  • How Doppler Flow Velocity measurements can be used in translational research from mice to mammals

In a recent ground-breaking publication in Scientific Reports by Nature Research, Perez et al. highlight the use of noninvasive blood flow velocity measurements to quantify cardiac contractility as a surrogate to +dP/dt max. The article titled “Aortic acceleration as a noninvasive index of left ventricular contractility in the mouse” describes an alternate methodology to what is highly considered the gold standard for evaluating cardiac contractility and relaxation in preclinical research. The acute and terminal nature of acquiring +dP/dt using invasive blood pressure catheters is less than ideal, so finding a noninvasive surrogate is of great interest to the scientific research community.

Utilizing a Doppler Flow Velocity System (DFVS) from Indus Instruments, Dr. Reddy and his group showed that peak acceleration in the ascending aorta can be used in place of invasive LVP catheters. This novel technique enables serial measurements in the same animal, which reduces animal-to-animal variability, allows for the use of fewer subjects, and decreases data collection time.

 

References:
Tovar Perez, J.E., Ortiz-Urbina, J., Heredia, C.P. et al. Aortic acceleration as a noninvasive index of left ventricular contractility in the mouse. Sci Rep 11, 536 (2021).

Publication

Tovar Perez, J.E., Ortiz-Urbina, J., Heredia, C.P. et al. Aortic acceleration as a noninvasive index of left ventricular contractility in the mouse. Sci Rep 11, 536 (202

 

About the Speaker (s)

Anilkumar K. Reddy, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Reddy’s research interests include evaluation of cardiac and vascular mechanics in senescent, disease, transgenic, and surgical models of mice. Some of the rodent models he studies include atherosclerosis, dwarf, myocardial infarction/remodeling, pressure overload, hypertension, absent vascular tone, and absent steroid receptor coactivator-1, with the main goal being to translate what is learned in mice to humans for early detection and screening.

Using noninvasive methods, such as pulsed Doppler Flow Velocity measurements as well as imaging methods, animals are phenotyped as abnormalities develop and progress, and their cardiovascular system is monitored as it adapts and compensates for the deterioration of function or for missing or over-expressed proteins. The main goal is to translate what is learned in mice to humans for detection and screening of cardiovascular diseases at an early stage when potential therapies can be most effective at preventing disease progression.