Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in mouse myocardial infarction.

We applied 3-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction to assess left ventricular (LV) volumes, function, and the extent of wall motion abnormalities in a murine model of myocardial infarction (MI). Consecutive parasternal short-axis planes were obtained at 1-mm intervals with a 13-MHz linear array probe. End-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes were calculated by Simpson's rule, and the ejection fraction and cardiac output were derived. Echocardiography-derived cardiac output was validated by an aortic flow probe in 6 mice. Echocardiography was then performed in 9 mice before and after the left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated. Wall motion was assessed, and the ratio of the abnormally to normally contracting myocardium was calculated. After MI occurred, LV end-diastolic volume and LV end-systolic volume increased (33 +/- 10 vs 24 +/- 6 microL, P <.05 and 24 +/- 9 vs 10 +/- 4 microL, P <.001), whereas cardiac output decreased (4.2 +/- 1.5 mL/min vs 6.6 +/- 2.3 mL/min, P <.01). Forty percent of the myocardium was normokinetic, 24% was hypokinetic, and 36% was akinetic. Echocardiography can measure LV volumes and regional and global function in a murine model of myocardial infarction, thereby providing the potential to quantitate and compare the responses of various transgenic mice to MI and its therapies.