In Vivo Experimental Assessment of Cardiac Function

  • André P. Lourenço
  • Inês Falcão-Pires
  • Adelino F. Leite-Moreira
Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

The increasing number of cardiovascular disease animal models has enabled great advances in heart failure and cardiovascular research. This was possible due to a parallel development of highly sophisticated methodologies for functional assessment and phenotyping of these same animal models. Since almost all research is currently carried out in rodents who have very high heart rates and small size, extremely precise and sophisticated equipment along with developed technical skills are needed for an accurate assessment of cardiac function. Main techniques described are telemetry, echocardiography, and hemodynamic evaluation, including pressure-volume curves.

Keywords

Cardiac function Rodents Telemetry Echocardiography Hemodynamics 

Abbreviations

E

Early wave of transmitral flow

Ea

Effective arterial elastance

ECG

Electrocardiography

ECHO

Echocardiography

Ees

End-systolic elastance

Emax

Maximum elastance

F

Frequency

G

Conductance

IVCT

Isovolumetric contraction time

IVRT

Isovolumetric relaxation time

L

Length

LV

Left ventricular

Pmax

Maximum pressure

TEL

Telemetry

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • André P. Lourenço
    • 1
  • Inês Falcão-Pires
    • 1
  • Adelino F. Leite-Moreira
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic SurgeryFaculty of Medicine of University of PortoPortoPortugal

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