Age‐Dependent Correlation of Pulmonary Function Impairment and Aortic Arch Stiffness in Mice

Figures

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  FIGURE 1. Characterization of lung function in aged male and female mice by flexiVent. (A) Inspiratory capacity (IC), (B) Newtonian resistance (Rn), (C) tissue damping (G), (D) tissue elastance (H), (E) resistance to respiratory system (Rrs), (F) compliance of the respiratory system (Crs), (G) elastance of the respiratory system (Ers), (H) quasi‐static compliance (Cst), and (I) body weight. Sample size was 5–16 per group, data presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance presented as * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, and **** p < 0.0001.

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  FIGURE 2. Aortic stiffness measurements of aged male and female mice assessed through echocardiography. (A) Aortic arch stiffness was determined through measurement of the (B) ascending and (C) descending aortic arch pulse wave velocity. Linear regression models of aortic arch stiffness was assessed in male (D) body weight or (E) age and female (F) body weight or (G) age. Sample size was 5–16 per group, data presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance presented as * p < 0.05 and *** p < 0.001.

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  FIGURE 3. Left ventricular (LV) function of aged male and female mice assessed by echocardiography. (A) Cardiac output (CO), (B) ejection fraction (EF), (C) fractional shortening (FS), (D) stroke volume (SV), (E) LV internal diameter during diastole or (F) systole, (G) LV mass (corrected), and (H) LV volume during systole or (I) diastole. Sample size was 5–7 per group, data presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance presented as * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, and **** p < 0.0001.

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  FIGURE 4. Left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular function of aged male and female mice assessed by echocardiography. E (E) and A (A) waves in conjunction with e prime (E′) and a prime (A′) were used to determine (A) E/A, (B) E′/A′, (C) E′/e′ ratios, (D) right ventricular free wall thickness (RVFWT), (E) tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and (F) pulmonary acceleration time (PAT). Sample size was 5–10 per group, data presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance presented as * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001.

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  FIGURE 5. Assessment of the relationship between lung function and aortic arch stiffness in male mice. (A) Inspiratory capacity (IC), (B) Newtonian resistance (Rn), (C) tissue damping (G), (D) tissue elastance (H), (E) resistance to respiratory system (Rrs), (F) compliance of the respiratory system (Crs), (G) elastance of the respiratory system (Ers), and (H) quasi‐static compliance (Cst). Sample size was 5–16 per group.

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  FIGURE 6. Assessment of the relationship between lung function and aortic arch stiffness in female mice. (A) Inspiratory capacity (IC), (B) Newtonian resistance (Rn), (C) tissue damping (G), (D) tissue elastance (H), (E) resistance to respiratory system (Rrs), (F) compliance of the respiratory system (Crs), (G) elastance of the respiratory system (Ers), and (H) quasi‐static compliance (Cst). Sample size was 5–16 per group.