Salerno Nadia, Di Costanzo Assunta, Marino Fabiola, Scalise Mariangela, Leo Isabella, Sabatino Jolanda, Canino Giovanni, Leccia Antonio, De Angelis Antonella, Urbanek Konrad, Torella Daniele, Cianflone Eleonora
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jun 22;26(13):5995. doi: 10.3390/ijms26135995.
Echocardiography is a cornerstone technique for evaluating cardiac function in preclinical research using murine models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the echocardiographic approaches employed to assess ventricular function in mouse models of heart disease, highlighting methodological principles, technical challenges, and the translational relevance of findings. Various echocardiographic modalities enable the precise evaluation of systolic and diastolic function. This article emphasizes standardization in image acquisition and analysis to minimize inter-operator variability and ensure reproducibility. It details echocardiographic parameters and strain imaging across commonly used mouse models of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, and ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, it explores the advantages and limitations of anesthesia, probe positioning, and physiological monitoring during imaging. The integration of advanced imaging technologies such as Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography (STE), Three-Dimensional (3-D), and Four-Dimensional (4-D) echocardiography is discussed as a promising avenue for enhancing data quality and improving the translational potential of preclinical cardiac studies.
超声心动图是在使用小鼠模型的临床前研究中评估心脏功能的一项基础技术。本综述全面概述了用于评估心脏病小鼠模型心室功能的超声心动图方法，重点介绍了方法学原理、技术挑战以及研究结果的转化相关性。各种超声心动图模式能够精确评估收缩和舒张功能。本文强调图像采集和分析的标准化，以尽量减少操作者之间的差异并确保可重复性。它详细介绍了在常用的非缺血性扩张型心肌病、糖尿病性心肌病、高血压性心脏病和缺血性心脏病小鼠模型中的超声心动图参数和应变成像。此外，还探讨了成像过程中麻醉、探头定位和生理监测的优缺点。作为提高数据质量和改善临床前心脏研究转化潜力的一条有前景的途径，文中讨论了斑点追踪超声心动图（STE）、三维（3-D）和四维（4-D）超声心动图等先进成像技术的整合。
