Cardiac Pressure/Volume Analysis
The primary function of the heart is to rhythmically contract the heart chambers to generate pressure and drive blood flow. The heart acts as a pump and can therefore be quantified by measuring both pressure and blood flow. Pressure/volume analysis takes advantage of small micromanometry catheters (down to 1.2 French) that when placed in the heart of mice or rats, can simultaneously measure pressure and chamber volume. In combination, with administration of inotropes or manipulating venous return, cardiac function can be measured during maximally stimulated conditions, or even measure Frank/Starling behavior to determine preload independent contractility.
Equipment
Scisense ADVantage PV (Pressure Volume) System. By using admittance rather than conductance, phase shift of the electrical fields can be used to quantify blood volumes and muscle tissue conductance in real time. Using variable segment lengths the same catheter can provide accurate measurements of volume of a range of heart sizes. Standard Analysis
Implantation into LV or RV via apical stab
Baseline Pressure/Volume Assessment
Dobutatmine challenge Inferior vena cava occlusion Additional AnalysisDrug administration protocols or more complex analysis protocols can be developed in collaboration with PPC staff and will be subject to standard analysis rates plus additional tech time. Applications - High resolution phenotyping of cardiac contractile function genetically engineered mice and rats - Assessing subtle differences in cardiac function in disease states including diastolic dysfunction or load independent contractility - Studying cardiac function in response to drugs or therapies
