Facility for analysis of mouse cardiovascular phenotype

Also known as cardiac ultrasound, this analysis is used to obtain bi-dimensional images of the heart. In addition to the creation of bi-dimensional images of the cardiovascular system, the echocardiogram can provide an accurate assessment of cardiac tissue blood flow by pulsed or continuous Doppler ultrasound. This allows to monitor the area and function of cardiac valves, eventually abnormal communications between the right and the left chamber of the heart, valvular regurgitation, as well as the measurement of Ejection Fraction (EF) and Fractional Shortening (FS).

Applications

Systolic function and Morphometric parameters:

• Intraventricular Septum Thickness in diastole and systole: IVSTd/IVSTs;
• Left Ventricular Internal Diameter in diastole and systole: LVIDd/LVIDs
• Left Ventricular Posterior Wall Thickness in diastole and systole: LVPWTd/LVPWTs
• Ejection Fraction and Fractional Shortening: EF and FS
• Left Ventricular Mass: LV Mass and corrected LV Mass
• Left Ventricular Volume in diastole and systole: LV Vol d/LV Vol s

Diastolic function

• Atrial component of diastolic filling (transmitral flow) MV A
• Early component of diastolic filling (transmitral flow) MV E
• Atrial and systolic tissue myocardial flow velocity: A' e E'
• Ratio: A'/E' and E'/A'
• Atrial contribution to ventricular filling: MV E/A
• Ratio between early component of diastolic filling and early transmitral tissue flow velocity: MV E/E'
• Aortic Ejection Time: AET
• Isovolumetric Contraction Time: IVCT
• Isovolumetric Relaxing Time: IVRT
• Left Ventricular Myocardial Performance Index: LV MPI IV
• Transmitral wave deceleration time: MV DT
• Mitral Valve Area: MV Area (simplified)
• Transmitral Pressure Gradient: MV PHT (simplified)

Right ventricle and pulmonary valve function

• Pulmonary Acceleration Time: PAT
• Pulmonary Ejection Time: PET
• Right Ventricular Outflow Tract: RVOT
• Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (Velocity/Time Integral): RVOT VTI
• Mean pulmonary arterial pressure: MPAP (common) and MPAP (PAT < 120 ms)
• Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Cardiac Output: RVOT CO
• Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Stroke Volume: RVOT SV

Aortic Valve Flow

• Aortic Valve Peak Velocity: AV Peak Vel
• Left Ventricular Outflow Tract: LVOT
• Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (Velocity/Time Integral): LVOT VTI
• Aortic Valve Peak Pressure: AV Peak Pressure
• Aortic Valve Area: AVA

Tricuspid Valve Flow

• Atrial component of diastolic filling (Tricuspid Valve Flow): TV A
• Early component of diastolic filling (Tricuspid Valve Flow): TV E
• Ratio: TV E/A

Cardiac Output

• Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Cardiac Output: LVOT CO
• Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Stroke Volume: LVOT SV

Some chemotherapeutic drugs, especially anthracyclines, display important cardiotoxic effects. The Facility provides assistance in the experimental design of studies of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (both acute and chronic protocols).

• Li M, Sala V, De Santis MC, Cimino J, Cappello P, Pianca N, Di Bona A, Margaria JP, Martini M, Lazzarini E, Pirozzi F, Rossi L, Franco I, Bornbaum J, Heger J, Rohrbach S, Perino A, Tocchetti CG, Lima BHF, Teixeira MM, Porporato PE, Schulz R, Angelini A, Sandri M, Ameri P, Sciarretta S, Lima-Júnior RCP, Mongillo M, Zaglia T, Morello F, Novelli F, Hirsch E, Ghigo A. Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Gamma Inhibition Protects From Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity and Reduces Tumor Growth. Circulation. 2018 Aug 14;138(7):696-711.
• Ingoglia G, Sag CM, Rex N, De Franceschi L, Vinchi F, Cimino J, Petrillo S, Wagner S, Kreitmeier K, Silengo L, Altruda F, Maier LS, Hirsch E, Ghigo A, Tolosano E. Hemopexin counteracts systolic dysfunction induced by heme-driven oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med. 2017 Jul;108:452-464.
• Kalish BT, Matte A, Andolfo I, Iolascon A, Weinberg O, Ghigo A, Cimino J, Siciliano A, Hirsch E, Federti E, Puder M, Brugnara C, De Franceschi L. Dietary ω-3 fatty acids protect against vasculopathy in a transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease. Haematologica. 2015 Jul;100(7):870-80.
• Vinchi F, De Franceschi L, Ghigo A, Townes T, Cimino J, Silengo L, Hirsch E, Altruda F, Tolosano E. Hemopexin therapy improves cardiovascular function by preventing heme-induced endothelial toxicity in mouse models of hemolytic diseases. Circulation. 2013 Mar 26;127(12):1317-29.
• Ghigo A, Perino A, Mehel H, Zahradníková A Jr, Morello F, Leroy J, Nikolaev VO, Damilano F, Cimino J, De Luca E, Richter W, Westenbroek R, Catterall WA, Zhang J, Yan C, Conti M, Gomez AM, Vandecasteele G, Hirsch E, Fischmeister R. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ protects against catecholamine-induced ventricular arrhythmia through protein kinase A-mediated regulation of distinct phosphodiesterases. Circulation. 2012 Oct 23;126(17):2073-83.

The service is available to researchers of University of Turin, and upon agreement, to external investigators. Fees are discussed with users upon specific request.