Abstract
Background. Heart development is a complex process, and abnormal development may result in congenital heart disease (CHD). Currently, studies on animal models mainly focus on cardiac morphology and the availability of hemodynamic data, especially of the right heart half, is limited. Here we aimed to assess the morphological and hemodynamic parameters of normal developing mouse embryos/fetuses by using a high-frequency ultrasound system. Methods. A timed breeding program was initiated with a WT mouse line (Swiss/129Sv background). All recordings were performed transabdominally, in isoflurane sedated pregnant mice, in hearts of sequential developmental stages: 12.5, 14.5, and 17.5 days after conception (n = 105). Results. Along development the heart rate increased significantly from 125 ± 9.5 to 219 ± 8.3 beats per minute. Reliable flow measurements could be performed across the developing mitral and tricuspid valves and outflow tract. M-mode measurements could be obtained of all cardiac compartments. An overall increase of cardiac systolic and diastolic function with embryonic/fetal development was observed. Conclusion. High-frequency echocardiography is a promising and useful imaging modality for structural and hemodynamic analysis of embryonic/fetal mouse hearts.
Highlights
Heart development is a complex process during which the heart will form from a single myocardial heart tube to a fully septated four-chambered heart with functional atrioventricular (AV) and ventriculoarterial valves and a separated outflow tract
At embryonic stages (12.5 dpc) ventricular septation has been initiated but is not completed resulting in a primitive interventricular foramen that directly connects the lumen of left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV)
The atrial and ventricular chambers are connected via the common AV canal (cAVC) that harbors large AV cushions, which will contribute to formation of the mitral valve (MV) and tricuspid valve (TV)
Summary
Heart development is a complex process during which the heart will form from a single myocardial heart tube to a fully septated four-chambered heart with functional atrioventricular (AV) and ventriculoarterial valves and a separated outflow tract. The cells of the SHF will form the right ventricle (RV) and outflow tract at the arterial pole of the heart as well as myocardial and vascular structures at the venous pole of the heart [1]. Up till description of both normal and abnormal heart development in these mouse models mainly focused on the morphology of the heart, whereas functional data like hemodynamics and in vivo imaging are limited. Studies on animal models mainly focus on cardiac morphology and the availability of hemodynamic data, especially of the right heart half, is limited. High-frequency echocardiography is a promising and useful imaging modality for structural and hemodynamic analysis of embryonic/fetal mouse hearts
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