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European Journal of Echocardiography Advance Access published online on March 27, 2008
European Journal of Echocardiography, doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jen123
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Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2008. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Doppler myocardial imaging in the diagnosis of early systolic left ventricular dysfunction in diabetic rats

Caroline Weytjens1,*, Philippe R. Franken1, Jan D’hooge2, Steven Droogmans1, Bernard Cosyns1, T. Lahoutte1 and Guy Van Camp1

1 Department of Cardiology, In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
2 Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Research, University Hospital, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium

Received 5 June 2007; accepted after revision 2 September 2007.

* Corresponding author. Tel: +32 2 477 63 12; fax: +32 2 477 68 40. E-mail address: igwsc{at}uzbrussel.be


  Abstract

Aim: To find out if Doppler myocardial imaging (DMI) can detect early signs of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Eight control and 12 Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats underwent transthoracic echocardiography with high-resolution technology at baseline and 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after STZ injection. Radial function was analysed using conventional M-mode, and velocity, strain and strain rate imaging. Longitudinal function was analysed using pulsed Doppler imaging of the mitral annulus.

Results: In the diabetic rats, a significant increase in LV end diastolic and end systolic diameter was measured when compared with controls (P < 0.001). Fractional shortening and LV ejection fraction remained unchanged in both groups. Using DMI, diabetic rats demonstrated a decrease in radial systolic velocity (rate of change: +0.01 vs. –0.003 week–1; P < 0.01) and radial systolic strain rate (+0.003 vs. –0.205 week–1; P = 0.08) of the anteroseptal wall. Histologic examination revealed dilated cardiomyopathy with no signs of fibrosis.

Conclusion: Although LV ejection fraction remained preserved, velocity and strain rate imaging was able to detect radial systolic dysfunction in diabetic rats. The absence of histological signs of fibrosis suggests that other mechanisms play a role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Keywords: Diabetic cardiomyopathy; Small animals; Tissue Doppler imaging; Echocardiography; Diabetes; Left ventricular function; Strain rate imaging


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