Ventricular remodeling and function: insights using murine echocardiography

Extracellular matrix disturbances play an important role in the development of ventricular remodeling and failure. Genetically modified mice with abnormalities in the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix have been generated, in particular mice with deletion or overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Echocardiography is ideally suited to serially evaluate left ventricular (LV) size and function, thus defining the progression of LV remodeling and failure. This Review describes the echocardiographic parameters that may provide insights into the development of ventricular remodeling and heart failure. The application of echocardiography to study LV remodeling and function after myocardial infarction and LV pressure-overload in wild-type mice and mice deficient or overexpressing MMPs or TIMPs is then detailed. Finally, using the example of mice deficient in nitric oxide synthase 3, a cautionary example is given illustrating discrepancies between the cardiac echocardiographic phenotype and modifications of the extracellular matrix.