The UAPC offers a wide array of surgical models and functional analyses aimed at investigating cardiovascular phenotypes. Examples of services offered are highlighted below. See service descriptions for further details or Contact Us.
Surgical | Output |
|---|---|
| Coronary artery ligation | Models of myocardial schemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, and heart failure |
| Transverse Aortic Construction (TAC) | Pressure overload induced hypertrophy, remodeling, and heart failure |
| Aortocaval Fistula (ACF) | Volume overload induced hypertrophy, remodeling, and heart failure |
| Skeletal Muscle Overload | Mechanical force overload of the plantaris and soleus muscles |
| Unilateral Diaphragm Denervation | Diaphragm atrophy and hypertrophy model |
Hemodynamics | Output |
|---|---|
| Cardiac catheterization | Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, TPR, measures of ionotropy: +/- dP/dt max, end systolic elastance, arterial elastance, preload-recruitable stroke work, and measures of lusitropy: EDPVR, tau (Sedation required; terminal study) |
Exercise | Output |
|---|---|
| Treadmill | Forced running on an automated treadmill. Speed, incline, and duration can be varied. Willingness to exercise, duration of exercise, and survival can be quantified. |
| Swimming Chamber | Forced swimming against a variable water current. Willingness to exercise, duration of exercise, and survival can be quantified. |
| Voluntary Running Wheel | Mouse housing cage equipped with a voluntary running wheel. Mice recieve free access to a free-spinning exercise wheel. Automatic data collection of distance ran, time spent running, maximum speed, and average speed. |
Echocardiography | Output |
|---|---|
| B-mode | 2 dimensional cross sectional view provides measures of cadiac chamber dimensions |
| M-mode | Cardiac chamber dimensions: LVESD, LVEDD, wall diameter, cardiac mass Systolic function: fractional shortening, ejection fraction, cardiac output (Unsedated or sedated; serial measurements) |
| Pulse-wave Doppler | Blood flow velocities, cardiac output, valvular gradients and function Diastolic function: mitral valve indices (EA ratio) (anesthesia required; serial measurements) |
| Tissue Doppler | Strain rate, ventricle dyssynchrony, myocardial wall velocities: ventricle systole (Sm), early relaxation (Em), atrial systole (Am), and Em/Am ratio (anesthesia required; serial measurements) |
| Strain Rate | Speckle-tracking of B-mode aqruired image provides strain and strain rate of various segments of the ventricle wall during systole or diastole |
Functional Assessment | Output |
|---|---|
| Plethysmography | Breathing rate, tidal volume, minute volume, inspiration time, expiration time, peak inspiratory flow, peak expiratory flow, respiratory pause time (conscious and un-restrained; serial measurements) |
| Whole Mouse Muscle Test System | Evaluation of intact muscles of mice either in situ, ex vivo, or isolated in vivo; force and length can both me controlled and measured; measurements include: length-tension, force-velocity, force-frequency, stiffness, fatigue, and work loops |