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Updated: May 1, 2026
Ultrasound-based Pulse Wave Velocity Evaluation in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
Applanation tonometry in mice: a novel noninvasive technique to assess pulse wave velocity and arterial stiffness
Arthur J A Leloup1, Paul Fransen2, Cor E Van Hove2
1From the Laboratories of Physiopharmacology Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.J.A.L., P.F., M.D., G.W.D.K., D.M.S.) and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine (C.E.V.H.), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Arthur.Leloup@uantwerpen.be.
Insights
Researchers developed a simple applanation tonometry technique to measure carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) in mice. This method provides a reproducible and accessible way to study arterial stiffness in various mouse models.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Animal Models
Background:
- Arterial stiffening contributes to cardiovascular diseases and aging.
- Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a key clinical measure of arterial stiffness.
- Existing methods for measuring mouse PWV are limited and technically demanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, noninvasive technique for assessing carotid-femoral PWV in mice.
- To establish a simple, accessible method for studying arterial stiffness in preclinical research.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel carotid-femoral PWV measurement technique based on clinical applanation tonometry.
- Validation in wild-type mice, endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice, and sedated mice.
- Pharmacological modulation of PWV in a longitudinal study.
Main Results:
- Established a reproducible reference PWV value in wild-type mice (3.96±0.05 m/s).
- Detected significantly altered PWV in knockout mice (4.66±0.05 m/s) and sedated mice (2.89±0.17 m/s).
- Demonstrated the technique's applicability through pharmacological modulation and longitudinal studies.
Conclusions:
- Applanation tonometry is a viable, noninvasive method for measuring carotid-femoral PWV in mice.
- The technique is simple, requires basic equipment, and is suitable for diverse mouse models.
- Facilitates research into arterial stiffness and cardiovascular complications in preclinical settings.
Abstract:
Arterial stiffening is the root cause of a range of cardiovascular complications, including myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, renal failure, dementia, and death, and a hallmark of the aging process. The most important in vivo parameter of arterial stiffness is pulse wave velocity (PWV). Clinically, PWV is determined noninvasively using applanation tonometry. Unlike the clinical value of arterial stiffness and PWV, techniques to determine PWV in mice are scarce. The only way to determine aortic PWV noninvasively in the mouse is by using ultrasound echo Doppler velocimetry. It is a fast, efficient, and accurate technique, but the required tools are expensive and technically complex. Here, we describe the development and validation of a novel technique to assess carotid-femoral PWV noninvasively in mice. This technique is based on applanation tonometry as used clinically. We were able to establish a reproducible reference value in wild-type mice (3.96±0.05 m/s) and to detect altered carotid-femoral PWV values in endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice (4.66±0.05 m/s; P<0.001 compared with control), and in mice sedated with sodium pentobarbital (2.89±0.17 m/s; P<0.001 compared with control). Also, carotid-femoral PWV was pharmacologically modulated and measured in a longitudinal experiment with endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice to demonstrate the applicability of this technique. In general, applanation tonometry can be used to measure carotid-femoral PWV noninvasively in mice. The experimental setup is simple, and the technical requirements are basic, making this technique readily implementable in any mouse model-based research facility interested in arterial stiffness.
