Key result
Still-growing 3-month-old rabbits had significantly higher amplitude (4.8 vs 3.5 mm) and maximal systolic (98 vs 66 mm/s) and diastolic velocities of MAM than 12-month-old rabbits (P<0.001).
Why the study?
Is it feasible to measure the amplitude and velocity of mitral annulus motion in rabbits using echocardiography, and how do these parameters change with age?
Cross-Sectional (n=21)
Is it feasible to measure the amplitude and velocity of mitral annulus motion in rabbits using echocardiography, and how do these parameters change with age?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.8% vs 3.5%
p-value: p=<0.001
Echocardiographic M-mode and tissue Doppler are feasible and highly reproducible methods for assessing left ventricular function via mitral annulus motion in experimental rabbit models, demonstrating age-related declines similar to those seen in humans.
Age-related mitral annulus motion decline in rabbits warrants caution in model selection; leaves open translation to human echocardiography studies.
OBJECTIVE: During recent years, the amplitude and the maximal systolic velocity of the mitral annulus motion (MAM) have been established as indices of the left ventricular systolic function and the maximal diastolic velocity of the annulus motion has been suggested as an index of diastolic function. The main aims of the present study were to investigate the feasibility of these techniques in rabbits and to investigate age-related changes concerning these variables. METHODS: Twenty-one New Zealand white rabbits were investigated by echocardiographic M-mode and pulsed tissue Doppler. One subgroup (I) included 11 still-growing, 3.0 +/- 0.2 month-old, animals and another group (II) included 10 young grown up rabbits, 12.1 +/- 1.5 months old. RESULTS: The amplitude (4.8 +/- 0.6 and 3.5 +/- 0.3 mm, respectively) and maximal systolic (98 +/- 14 and 66 +/- 7 mm/s, respectively) and diastolic (111 +/- 21 and 80 +/- 12 mm/s, respectively) velocities of the MAM were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in group I than in group II, despite a bigger heart in the animals in the latter group. A coefficient of variation of <5% was found for both inter- and intraobserver variability for both amplitude and velocities. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude and velocities of MAM are easily recorded in rabbits with excellent reproducibility and the changes with age seem to be very similar to those in humans. These noninvasive M-mode and tissue Doppler methods are therefore suitable for the investigation of left ventricular function in experimental studies in rabbits.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gan et al. (2004) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (New Zealand white rabbits) (n=21). Still-growing age (3 months) vs. Young grown-up age (12 months) was evaluated on Amplitude of mitral annulus motion (mm) (p=<0.001). Still-growing 3-month-old rabbits had significantly higher amplitude (4.8 vs 3.5 mm) and maximal systolic (98 vs 66 mm/s) and diastolic velocities of MAM than 12-month-old rabbits (P<0.001).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: