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Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Quantification of Mouse Heart Left Ventricular Function, Myocardial Strain, and Hemodynamic Forces by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: May 24, 2021
Variability of Mouse Left Ventricular Function Assessment by 11.7 Tesla MRI
Laetitia Vanhoutte1, Bernard Gallez, Olivier Feron
1Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Avenue Hippocrate 10/1380, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium, laetitia.vanhoutte@uclouvain.be.
High-resolution MRI in mice demonstrates excellent reproducibility for left ventricular (LV) mass and volume measurements. This technique reliably assesses LV systolic function, crucial for longitudinal studies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Mouse Models
Background:
- Accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is critical in preclinical cardiovascular research.
- High-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers advanced capabilities for in vivo phenotyping of cardiac structure and function in small animal models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of left ventricular (LV) mass and volume measurements using an 11.7 T MRI system in mice.
- To assess the reproducibility of LV systolic function parameters derived from MRI in a mouse model, including those with induced cardiac alterations.
Main Methods:
- Intraobserver, interobserver, and interexperiment reproducibility were assessed for LV mass and volume measurements in mice (n=24 and n=12, respectively) on an 11.7 T MRI scanner.
- LV systolic function was evaluated using a short-axis FLASH-cine sequence in 29 mice, including a cohort that underwent transverse aortic constriction.
- Bland-Altman and regression analyses were employed to compare data sets and assess correlations.
Main Results:
- Excellent reproducibility (coefficient of variability [CoV] 5.4–11.8 %) was observed for LV mass and end-diastolic volume.
- Good reproducibility (CoV 15.2–19.4 %) was found for end-systolic volume, while moderate reproducibility (CoV 14.7–20.9 %) was noted for stroke volume and ejection fraction.
- A strong correlation (r=0.92) was established between MRI-derived LV mass and ex vivo morphometric data.
Conclusions:
- 11.7 T MRI enables assessment of LV systolic function in mice with high reproducibility for most parameters, supporting its use in longitudinal studies.
- While most parameters show high reproducibility, moderate variability in stroke volume and ejection fraction necessitates careful interpretation of small volume changes.
