DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY METHODS FOR ESTIMATING LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS IN RATS

Abstract

1. The aim of this study was to develop non‐invasive echocardiography methods of measuring left ventricular mass (LVM) in rats, and to determine their usefulness in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy. 2. After initial studies to identify the optimum transducer and to ascertain the resolution limits of echocardiography, the repeatability of LVM estimates was studied. The average difference between two independent estimates in 86 male rats (average LVM = 674.7 mg) was 5.4 mg, and the standard deviation of the difference was 107.6 mg. 3. To determine agreement between direct and indirect methods, LVM was measured in 38 male rats by echocardiography and compared with direct measurement of th..