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Updated: Dec 18, 2025
Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats
Published on: December 13, 2019
Longitudinal evaluation of cardiovascular function in six healthy cats aged 1-8 years
Keisuke Sugimoto1, Takuma Aoki1, Yoko Fujii1
1Laboratory of Small Animal Surgery, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of ageing on the cardiovascular system of healthy adult cats.
Methods:
Six experimental cats were used. Echocardiography and measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP) were performed every year for 8 years (from 1 year of age to 8 years of age) in all cats. Age-related changes to left ventricular (LV) structures, LV systolic and diastolic function, and SBP were assessed.
Results:
There were no significant changes in LV structures and SBP. Peak longitudinal strain rate during systole was decreased at 8 years of age, and peak longitudinal strain rate during diastole was decreased from 6 years of age.
Conclusions And Relevance:
This study revealed that some measures of cardiac function recorded in six healthy cats from 1 to 8 years of age were affected as the cats got older; however, there were no structural changes or changes in measurements that are routinely assessed in clinical practice.
