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Analytical Chem JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats

DOI: 10.3791/60404-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Perform transthoracic echocardiography on adult rats using multiple acoustic windows
  • ✓ Identify and assess all four cardiac chambers, valves, and aortic segments
  • ✓ Acquire and interpret representative echocardiographic views for cardiac anatomy and function
Protocol

A non-invasive protocol for transthoracic echocardiography assessment of cardiac anatomy and function for adult rats is presented in the current study. The heart valves, all four cardiac chambers and the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta are studied in detail.

Difficulty
intermediate
Total time
~30-45 min per rat
Model organism
Rat (adult)

Steps

1
Obtain left parasternal long-axis view

Position the ultrasound transducer on the left parasternal region to visualize the long-axis view of the heart, including left ventricle and atrium.

▶ 01:25
2
Acquire left parasternal short-axis view

Rotate the transducer 90 degrees from the long-axis position to obtain cross-sectional views of the left ventricle at various levels.

▶ 02:13
3
Capture apical 4-chamber view

Reposition the transducer to the apical region to visualize all four cardiac chambers in a single plane.

▶ 02:52
4
Record apical 5-chamber view

Angle the transducer slightly to include the ascending aorta in addition to the four cardiac chambers.

▶ 04:24
5
Obtain apical 2-, 3-chamber and suprasternal views

Acquire additional apical views and reposition to the suprasternal window to visualize the aortic arch and descending aorta.

▶ 05:09
6
Analyze cardiac anatomy and function measurements

Review representative echocardiographic images to assess cardiac chamber dimensions, wall thickness, valve morphology, and functional parameters.

▶ 06:02
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