Transthoracic echocardiographic examination in the rabbit model

Giraldo, A., Talavera López, J., Brooks, G. and Fernández-del-Palacio, M. J. (2019) Transthoracic echocardiographic examination in the rabbit model. Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE (148). e59457. ISSN 1940-087X doi: 10.3791/59457

Abstract/Summary

Large animal models such as the rabbit are valuable for translational preclinical research. Rabbits have a similar cardiac electrophysiology compared to that of humans and that of other large animal models such as dogs and pigs. However, the rabbit model has the additional advantage of lower maintenance costs compared to other large animal models. The longitudinal evaluation of cardiac function using echocardiography, when appropriately implemented, is a useful methodology for preclinical assessment of novel therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (e.g. cardiac regeneration). The correct use of this non-invasive tool requires the implementation of a standardized examination protocol following international guidelines. Here we describe, step by step, a detailed protocol supervised by veterinary cardiologists for performing echocardiography in the rabbit model, and demonstrate how to correctly obtain the different echocardiographic views and imaging planes, as well as the different imaging modes available in a clinical echocardiography system routinely used in human and veterinary patients.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/84648
Identification Number/DOI	10.3791/59457
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Biomedical Sciences
Publisher	JoVE
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