High-frequency ultrasound assessment of the murine heart from embryo through to juvenile
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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Analysis of Cerebral Vasospasm in a Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with High Frequency Transcranial Duplex Ultrasound
Published on: June 3, 2021
Niamh Corrigan1, Derek P Brazil, Fionnuala M Auliffe
1UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
High-frequency ultrasound noninvasively assesses murine cardiac function from embryo to juvenile stages. This provides detailed physiological readouts invaluable for studying cardiac disease models in mice.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Developmental Biology
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Cardiac function undergoes significant changes during embryonic, neonatal, and juvenile development.
- Understanding normal cardiac development is crucial for identifying abnormalities in disease models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate murine cardiac function noninvasively using high-frequency ultrasound across developmental stages.
- To establish normative data for cardiac parameters in normal embryos, neonates, and juveniles.
Main Methods:
- High-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy was employed.
- Diastolic function assessed via E/A ratio and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT).
- Systolic function measured by isovolumetric contraction time (ICT) and fractional shortening (FS %).
- Global cardiac performance quantified using myocardial performance index (MPI).
Main Results:
- Isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) remained stable from embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) to 3 weeks.
- Systolic function (ICT) improved during gestation and stabilized post-E18.5.
- Myocardial performance index (MPI) improved in embryonic life and stabilized by 3 weeks.
- Ejection fraction (EF %) was high during gestation, decreasing from neonate to juvenile stages.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound biomicroscopy enables noninvasive, in-depth assessment of embryonic and pup cardiac function.
- Provides detailed physiological and functional cardiac readouts.
- Valuable for comparative analysis with mouse models of cardiac disease.
Aim:
The aim of this study is to assess the murine heart of normal embryos, neonates, and juveniles using high-frequency ultrasound.
Methods:
Diastolic function was measured with E/A ratio (E wave velocity/A wave velocity) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), systolic function with isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), percentage fractional shortening (FS %), percentage ejection fraction (EF %). Global cardiac performance was quantified using myocardial performance index (MPI).
Results:
Isovolumetric relaxation time remained stable from E10.5 to 3 weeks. Systolic function (ICT) improved with gestation and remained stable from E18.5 onward. Myocardial performance index showed improvement in embryonic life (0.82- 0.63) and then stabilized from 1 to 3 week (0.60-0.58). Percentage ejection fraction remained high during gestation (77%-69%) and then decreased from the neonate to juvenile (68%-51%).
Conclusion:
The ultrasound biomicroscope allows for noninvasive in-depth assessment of cardiac function of embryos and pups. Detailed physiological and functional cardiac function readouts can be obtained, which is invaluable for comparison to mouse models of disease.
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