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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Murine Echocardiography and Ultrasound Imaging
Published on: August 8, 2010
Characterization of a murine model of cardiorenal syndrome type 1 by high-resolution Doppler sonography
P Pesce1, L Cecchetto1, S Brocco1
1Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
Insights
Researchers developed a new animal model for cardiorenal syndrome type 1 (CRS-1), a condition linking heart failure to kidney dysfunction. This model, using mice with induced heart failure, demonstrates key features of CRS-1, including renal vasoconstriction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nephrology
- Translational Research
Background:
- Cardiorenal syndrome type 1 (CRS-1) involves acute kidney dysfunction due to acute cardiac decompensation.
- Renal vasoconstriction, driven by renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation, is a key mechanism in CRS-1.
- Existing literature lacks established animal models for CRS-1.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and characterize a murine model of CRS-1.
- To utilize high-resolution ultrasound echo-color Doppler (VEVO2100) for evaluating the model.
Main Methods:
- Induction of post-ischemic heart failure in CD1 mice via coronary artery ligation (LAD).
- Cardiac and renal echo-color Doppler assessments at 15 and 30 days post-surgery.
- Measurement of serum creatinine and plasma renin activity post-mortem.
- Comparison with a control group of CD1 mice.
Main Results:
- Mice exhibited heart failure with left ventricle dilatation and reduced ejection fraction (EF) 15 days after LAD.
- Significant renal vasoconstriction was observed, indicated by increased renal pulsatility index (PI).
- Elevated serum creatinine and plasma renin activity levels were detected in the LAD group compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The LAD-induced mouse model effectively replicates CRS-1.
- Doppler sonography is a viable tool for assessing this CRS-1 model.
- The model confirms renal vasoconstriction due to RAS activation secondary to heart failure.
Abstract:
Cardiorenal syndrome type 1 (CRS-1) is the acute kidney disfunction caused by an acute worsening of cardiac function. CRS-1 is the consequence of renal vasoconstriction secondary to renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation. No animal models of CRS-1 are described in literature.
Purpose:
To characterize a murine model of CRS-1 by using a high-resolution ultrasound echo-color Doppler system (VEVO2100).
Materials:
Post-ischemic heart failure was induced by coronary artery ligation (LAD) in seven CD1 mice. Fifteen and thirty days after surgery, mice underwent cardiac and renal echo-color Doppler. Serum creatinine and plasma renin activity were measured after killing. Animals were compared to seven CD1 control mice.
Results:
Heart failure with left ventricle dilatation (end diastolic area, p < 0.05 vs. controls) and significantly reduced ejection fraction (EF; p < 0.01 vs. controls) was evident 15 days after LAD. We measured a significant renal vasoconstriction in infarcted mice characterized by increased renal pulsatility index (PI; p < 0.05 vs. controls) associated to increased creatinine and renin levels (p < 0.05 vs. controls).
Conclusions:
The mice model of LAD is a good model of CRS-1 evaluable by Doppler sonography and characterized by renal vasoconstriction due to the activation of the renin-angiotensin system secondary to heart failure.
