Evaluation of cardiac function and anatomy of a knockout mouse with cardiac failure

大多数心血管系统衰竭的基因敲除小鼠模型都是致命的，因为这些小鼠很难存活。而且，没有血管的动物不能生存。在我们使用的这个基因敲除的小鼠模型中，心脏的畸形局限于右侧，因此动物能够存活和繁殖。超声心动图采用无创性超声心动图和微创导管心动图。在一只死于心力衰竭的小鼠中，观察到右心房和右室显著肥大。使用PMS公司制造的HDI-5000 SONO CT XRES回声诊断系统，使用高频线性探头CL15-7，对小鼠从出生后第5天到成年进行观察。对血管和脑室的物理关系进行三维评价。此外，还观察到右冠状动脉和左冠状动脉从主动脉发出。探讨基因敲除小鼠的心脏解剖和生理功能，有助于揭示该基因的内在功能，从意想不到的表型中识别该基因的新功能，并从遗传背景和系谱的角度考察该基因在表型中的作用。

The majority of knockout mouse models with failure in cardiovascular system are fatal, since it is difficult for these mice to survive. And, animals without blood vessels cannot live. In the this knockout mouse model that we used, malformation of the heart was localized and limited to the right side, therefore the animals were able to survive and reproduce. The heart was evaluated serially by the noninvasive method of echo and less invasive method of catheter. Prominent hypertrophy in the right atrium and right ventricular was observed in one mouse that died of heart failure. Observation of the mice from day 5 after birth to adulthood was performed using an echo diagnostic system HDI-5000 Sono CT XRES manufactured by PMS Company, using a high frequency linear probe CL15-7. The physical relationship of the blood vessels and the ventricles was evaluated three-dimensionally. Also, the right and left coronary arteries were observed to arise from the aorta. To explore cardiac anatomy and physiological function of a knockout mouse is helpful to demonstrate the intrinsic function of the gene, to identify the new function of the gene from the unexpected phenotype, and to examine the role of the gene in the phenotype by a relation between the genetic background and the genealogical standpoint.