[Determination of the dimensions of the heart in experimental animals using tomography based on the principle of nuclear magnetic resonance].

A new method of tomography based on the principle of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR-tomography) was used to determine the heart size in experimental animals. The study involved 25 rabbits and NMR-tomograms of their hearts were obtained both in situ and on the isolated heart. The results obtained were compared with the morphometric findings. It was found that the values of the heart size determined by NMR-tomograms as compared with the morphometric values both in situ and on the isolated heart were very similar, showing no statistical difference. When the tomographic findings were compared with the morphometric data, the correlation coefficient for the thickness of the left ventricle wall was 0.64; for the short axis of the left ventricle 0.55; for the perimeter of the left ventricle 0.70, and for the total size of the heart it equalled 0.98. It is inferred that NMR-tomography is quite adequate for taking the necessary measurements of the heart with sufficient precision.