Published in

MyJove Corporation, Journal of Visualized Experiments, 94, 2014

DOI: 10.3791/52200

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Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

We present a protocol for measuring in vivo aortic stiffness in mice using high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Aortic diameter is measured by ultrasound and aortic blood pressure is measured invasively with a solid-state pressure catheter. Blood pressure is raised then lowered incrementally by intravenous infusion of vasoactive drugs phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside. Aortic diameter is measured for each pressure step to characterize the pressure-diameter relationship of the ascending aorta. Stiffness indices derived from the pressure-diameter relationship can be calculated from the data collected. Calculation of arterial compliance is described in this protocol.