AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 270, Issue 2 780-H786, Copyright © 1996 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

A technique to assess aortic distensibility and compliance in anesthetized and awake rats

A. Van Gorp, D. S. Van Ingen Schenau, J. Willigers, A. P. Hoeks, J. G. De Mey, H. A. Struyker Boudier and R. S. Reneman
Department of Physiology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

A noninvasive ultrasonic technique, based on tracking arterial wall displacements with a vessel wall-tracking device attached to a conventional B-mode imager, to assess end-diastolic aortic diameter (d) and aortic diameter changes during the cardiac cycle (delta d) in anesthetized and awake rats is presented. From these parameters and invasively measured aortic pulse pressure (delta P), aortic distensibility and compliance, the relative and absolute increases in lumen cross-sectional area for a given increase in delta P, respectively, can be calculated. d, delta d, and delta P could be determined with good intra-session (variations per day) and inter-session (variations between days) coefficients of variation (CV). The CVs for delta d were smaller in awake (4.6-6.0%) than in anesthetized rats (7.9-11.0%), probably due to variations in delta P during anesthesia (CV: 9.0-12.3%). The CVs for d in awake (3.3-6.5%) and anesthetized rats (2.6-5.0%) were comparable. In awake rats the CV for delta d, but not for d, increased after implantation of the aortic catheter. It is concluded that d, delta d, and delta P of the aorta can be reliably measured noninvasively in anesthetized and awake rats, allowing the in vivo assessment of aortic distensibility and compliance. The technique is sensitive enough to detect effects of agents on aortic wall properties.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. Hartley, A. K. Reddy, S. Madala, M. L. Entman, L. H. Michael, and G. E. Taffet Noninvasive ultrasonic measurement of arterial wall motion in mice Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2004; 287(3): H1426 - H1432. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Slama, D. Susic, J. Varagic, J. Ahn, and E. D. Frohlich Echocardiographic measurement of cardiac output in rats Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, February 1, 2003; 284(2): H691 - H697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Cantini, P. Kieffer, B. Corman, P. Liminana, J. Atkinson, and I. Lartaud-Idjouadiene Aminoguanidine and Aortic Wall Mechanics, Structure, and Composition in Aged Rats Hypertension, October 1, 2001; 38(4): 943 - 948. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Cerutti, M. P. Gustin, P. Molino, and C. Z. Paultre Beat-to-beat stroke volume estimation from aortic pressure waveform in conscious rats: comparison of models Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2001; 281(3): H1148 - H1155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. W. van Gorp, D. S. V. I. Schenau, A. P. G. Hoeks, H. A. J. S. Boudier, J. G. R. de Mey, and R. S. Reneman In spontaneously hypertensive rats alterations in aortic wall properties precede development of hypertension Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2000; 278(4): H1241 - H1247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Marque, P. Kieffer, J. Atkinson, and I. Lartaud-Idjouadiene Elastic Properties and Composition of the Aortic Wall in Old Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Hypertension, September 1, 1999; 34(3): 415 - 422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Molino, C. Cerutti, C. Julien, G. Cuisinaud, M.-P. Gustin, and C. Paultre Beat-to-beat estimation of windkessel model parameters in conscious rats Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 1998; 274(1): H171 - H177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Niederhoffer, V. Marque, I. Lartaud-Idjouadiene, C. Duvivier, R. Peslin, and J. Atkinson Vasodilators, Aortic Elasticity, and Ventricular End-Systolic Stress in Nonanesthetized, Unrestrained Rats Hypertension, November 1, 1997; 30(5): 1169 - 1174. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. Niederhoffer, I. Lartaud-Idjouadiene, P. Giummelly, C. Duvivier, R. Peslin, and J. Atkinson Calcification of Medial Elastic Fibers and Aortic Elasticity Hypertension, April 1, 1997; 29(4): 999 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. A.J. Struijker-Boudier, H. van Essen, G. Fazzi, J. G.R. De Mey, H. Y. Qiu, and B. I. Levy Disproportional Arterial Hypertrophy in Hypertensive mRen-2 Transgenic Rats Hypertension, November 1, 1996; 28(5): 779 - 784. [Abstract] [Full Text]