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Updated: Aug 3, 2026
Transthoracic Echocardiography in Mice
Published on: May 28, 2010
Effects of tribromoethanol anesthesia on echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mice
S Kiatchoosakun1, D Kirkpatrick, B D Hoit
1Department of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University, Ohio 44106-5038, USA.
Background And Purpose:
Pentobarbital and ketamine-xylazine anesthesia in mice result in markedly decreased left ventricular fractional shortening and cardiac output. However, to the authors' knowledge, the effect of short-acting, alcohol-based anesthesia on these parameters is unknown.
Methods:
Fifteen mice (FVB/N, C57Bl/6J, A/J, n = 5 each) underwent high-resolution (15 MHz) 2-dimensional-directed M-mode echocardiography before and after undergoing 2.5% tribromoethanol anesthesia (0.01 ml/g of body weight).
Results:
Tribromoethanol anesthesia resulted in significant heart rate slowing (29%) and left ventricular enlargement (20%), and a more modest (12%) reduction in left ventricular fractional shortening. Cardiac output was unchanged. The differences in left ventricular function between conscious and tribromoethanol studies were similar for each of the three strains of mice.
Conclusions:
Tribromoethanol anesthesia induced only modest effects on M-mode estimates of basal cardiac function and did not influence cardiac output. The effects to tribromoethanol anesthesia were similar among three commonly used mice strains.
Insights
Tribromoethanol anesthesia in mice caused minor changes in cardiac function, including reduced heart rate and left ventricular size, but did not affect cardiac output. These effects were consistent across different mouse strains.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Anesthesiology
- Mouse Models
Background:
- Existing anesthesia protocols (pentobarbital, ketamine-xylazine) significantly impair cardiac function in mice.
- The impact of short-acting, alcohol-based anesthesia on cardiac parameters in mice remains largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of tribromoethanol anesthesia on cardiac function in mice.
- To compare the cardiac effects of tribromoethanol anesthesia across different mouse strains.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function in 15 mice from three strains (FVB/N, C57Bl/6J, A/J).
- Measurements were taken before and after administration of 2.5% tribromoethanol anesthesia.
- High-resolution 2-dimensional-directed M-mode echocardiography was employed.
Main Results:
- Tribromoethanol anesthesia led to a significant decrease in heart rate (29%) and an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (20%).
- A modest reduction (12%) in left ventricular fractional shortening was observed.
- Cardiac output remained unchanged, and effects were similar across the three mouse strains.
Conclusions:
- Tribromoethanol anesthesia has minimal impact on basal cardiac function as assessed by M-mode echocardiography.
- Cardiac output is not significantly affected by tribromoethanol anesthesia in mice.
- The cardiac effects of tribromoethanol anesthesia are consistent across commonly used mouse strains.
