Publication
Title
Applanation tonometry in mice a novel noninvasive technique to assess pulse wave velocity and arterial stiffness
Author
Abstract
Arterial stiffening is the root cause of a range of cardiovascular complications, including myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, renal failure, dementia, and death, and a hallmark of the aging process. The most important in vivo parameter of arterial stiffness is pulse wave velocity (PWV). Clinically, PWV is determined noninvasively using applanation tonometry. Unlike the clinical value of arterial stiffness and PWV, techniques to determine PWV in mice are scarce. The only way to determine aortic PWV noninvasively in the mouse is by using ultrasound echo Doppler velocimetry. It is a fast, efficient, and accurate technique, but the required tools are expensive and technically complex. Here, we describe the development and validation of a novel technique to assess carotid-femoral PWV noninvasively in mice. This technique is based on applanation tonometry as used clinically. We were able to establish a reproducible reference value in wild-type mice (3.96 +/- 0.05 m/s) and to detect altered carotid-femoral PWV values in endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice (4.66 +/- 0.05 m/s; P<0.001 compared with control), and in mice sedated with sodium pentobarbital (2.89 +/- 0.17 m/s; P<0.001 compared with control). Also, carotid-femoral PWV was pharmacologically modulated and measured in a longitudinal experiment with endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice to demonstrate the applicability of this technique. In general, applanation tonometry can be used to measure carotid-femoral PWV noninvasively in mice. The experimental setup is simple, and the technical requirements are basic, making this technique readily implementable in any mouse model-based research facility interested in arterial stiffness.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Hypertension / American Heart Association. - Dallas, Tex., 1979, currens
Publication
Dallas, Tex. : 2014
ISSN
0194-911X
1524-4563 [online]
DOI
10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03312
Volume/pages
64 :1 (2014) , p. 195-200
ISI
000337700400030
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 28.08.2014
Last edited 09.10.2023
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