Dennis Alicia T, Castro Julian M, Heffernan Scott, Hennessy Annemarie
The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
J Med Primatol. 2012 Apr;41(2):122-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0684.2011.00532.x. Epub 2012 Jan 25.
To determine systolic and diastolic function using transthoracic echocardiography in the baboon (Papio hamadryas).
Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in eight non-pregnant female and six pregnant baboons according to American Society of Echocardiography recommendations.
Haemodynamic measurements were obtained from fourteen baboons. Compared to non-pregnant baboons, pregnant baboons demonstrated: (mean ± SD, pregnant vs. healthy) increased cardiac output (1615 ± 121 ml/minutes vs. 1317 ± 134 ml/minutes P = 0.001) due to an increased heart rate [120 ± 11 beats per minute (BPM) vs. 105 ± 6 BPM P = 0.018]. The inter-observer and intra-observer variability (mean difference ± SD) for the left ventricular outflow tract diameter was 0.05 ± 0.07 cm and 0.01 ± 0.03 cm respectively. There was minimal impact to the animal's daily activities.
Transthoracic echocardiography was applicable and reproducible for the assessment of haemodynamics in baboons thus enabling translation of animal results to human studies.
