J Vet Sci.  2013 Sep;14(3):355-362. 10.4142/jvs.2013.14.3.355.

Evaluation of changes in left ventricular myocardial function observed in canine myocardial dysfunction model using a two-dimensional tissue tracking technique

• Hamabe L
• Fukushima
• Kawamura K
• Shinoda Y
• Huai-Che H
• Suzuki S
• Aytemiz D
• Iwasaki T
• Tanaka R

• KMID: 1705567
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2013.14.3.355

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the ability of two-dimensional tissue tracking (2DTT) to evaluate changes in left ventricular (LV) myocardial function associated with sustained high electrical pacing. Pacemakers were implanted at the right ventricular (RV) apex of five female Beagles, and sustained high electrical pacing of 250 beats per minute (bpm) was performed for three consecutive weeks. Conventional echocardiography and 2DTT were performed at baseline, and at every week for three weeks with pacing. The baseline parameters were then compared to those of weeks 1, 2, and 3. Three weeks of pacing resulted in significant reduction of radial and circumferential global strains (p < 0.001). Regional analysis revealed reduction of segmental strains in both radial and circumferential directions, as well as increased dyssynchrony after three weeks of pacing in the radial direction (p = 0.0007). The results of this study revealed the ability of 2DTT to measure radial and circumferential strains in dogs with sustained high-electrical pacing, and allowed assessment of global and regional myocardial function and the degree of dyssynchrony.

Keyword

cardiology; dog; echocardiography; experimental animal model; myocardial failure

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial
Dogs
Echocardiography/*methods
Female
Heart Rate
Heart Ventricles/*ultrasonography
*Ventricular Function, Left

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Examples of radial and circumferential strain profiles obtained from the right parasternal short axis view at the level of the papillary muscle using two-dimensional tissue tracking. Radial strain represents thickening and thinning motion of the myocardium in the radial direction, and circumferential strain represents myocardial motion along the circular perimeter. In the systole, the myocardial deformation increases in the radial direction, thus the radial strain becomes positive, and the myocardial deformation decreases in the circumferential direction, causing the circumferential direction to becomes negative. Radial (A) and circumferential (B) strains at baseline, and radial (C) and circumferential (D) strains at week 3 of sustained high electrical pacing.

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  Fig. 2 Mean ± standard deviation values of global radial (A) and circumferential (B) strains plotted against time. Compared with baseline, †p < 0.01, ‡p <0.001 (ANOVA-Dunnet's post test).

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  Fig. 3 Mean ± standard deviation values of radial (A) and circumferential (B) synchrony time index, which is the indicator used to assess the degree of dyssynchrony. Significant differences determined by Dunnett's multiple comparison tests are represented when relevant. Compared with baseline, *p < 0.05, †p < 0.001.

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