Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

07:38
Cardiac Catheterization in Mice to Measure the Pressure Volume Relationship: Investigating the Bowditch Effect
Published on: June 14, 2015
Effect of cellular elements on pressure-velocity relationship in mice
A K Reddy1, G E Taffet, J F Prchal
1Section of Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Summary
Blood cellular elements significantly impact peripheral vascular function. Polycythemic mice exhibited altered pressure-velocity relationships in iliac arteries compared to wild-type mice, indicating changes in vascular dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Hematology
Background:
- Peripheral vascular function is crucial for blood circulation.
- Blood composition, including cellular elements, may influence vascular dynamics.
- Polycythemia, a condition of elevated red blood cell mass, presents a unique model to study these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of blood cellular elements on peripheral vascular function.
- To evaluate pressure-velocity relationships in the iliac arteries of wild-type (WT) and polycythemic (MH) mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pressure-velocity relationships in the iliac arteries of WT and MH mice.
- Measured arterial pressure via catheter and blood velocity using Doppler probe.
- Performed transient aortic occlusion to analyze diastolic pressure-velocity dynamics.
Main Results:
- The pressure-velocity relationship was linear with similar slopes in both groups.
- Polycythemic (MH) mice showed a significantly higher extrapolated zero-velocity intercept compared to WT mice.
- Hematocrit levels were significantly higher in MH (59%+/-3) than WT (41%+/-3) mice.
Conclusions:
- Blood cellular elements, particularly at elevated levels seen in polycythemia, alter peripheral vascular pressure-velocity relationships.
- These findings highlight the role of blood rheology in modulating vascular function.

