[Animal modeling] - Characteristics of cardiac structure, function and pathological process of pressure overload heart failure mouse model

  Objective to establish a mouse heart failure model and evaluate the characteristic changes of cardiac function and structure in the course of disease development by ultrasonic imaging and pathological techniques.

  Methods The model of heart failure induced by pressure overload in mice was established by aortic arch constriction surgery. The blood flow Doppler at the aortic arch constriction site was collected 0 weeks before modeling and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after modeling to estimate the pressure on blood vessels, B and M ultrasonic images were collected to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function of cardiac structure, mitral orifice blood flow Doppler and mitral annulus tissue Doppler were collected to evaluate the cardiac diastolic function, and cardiac tissues were collected for histopathological observation.

  Results The results of ultrasound imaging showed that the aortic blood pressure increased significantly at 2,4 and 8 weeks after operation. At 2 weeks after operation, the characteristic compensatory thickness of left ventricular wall increased, the inner diameter decreased, and the systolic function increased, but the diastolic function was impaired and myocardial fibrosis occurred; Four weeks after operation, it was a transitional period, mainly manifested as the transition from ventricular wall hypertrophy to ventricular dilation, the decline of systolic function, the continuous impairment of diastolic function, and further myocardial fibrosis; Eight weeks after operation, the characteristic ventricular cavity was enlarged, the systolic and diastolic functions were significantly reduced, and the myocardial cells were partially dissolved and significantly fibrotic.

  Conclusion The evaluation of the structure and function of the left ventricle in the three stages of compensatory myocardial hypertrophy, transition to decompensated dilated heart failure in the offspring of aortic arch constriction in mice provides a theoretical basis for the application of aortic arch constriction model in basic and transformation studies.