Seminar Abstract

“Noninvasive Phenotyping Of The Mouse Heart With Cardiac MRI”

The mouse model has become a powerful tool in cardiovascular disease research. Genetically engineered mice have been frequently used to study cardiomyopathies characterized by ventricular hypertrophy, dilatation, or diastolic/systolic dysfunction. Surgical methods such as aortic banding and coronary artery ligation can also induce pathological changes in the mouse heart. Despite the advantages of these models, studying the in vivo mouse heart is challenging due to the mouse’s small heart size and fast heart rate.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to obtain in vivo data of human or large animal hearts. Due to its high spatial and temporal resolution, MRI is ideal for studying geometry and function of the mouse heart. We have developed a MRI-based technique that accurately characterizes mouse cardiac geometry and function in 3D. Data from 2D cine anatomical MR images can be combined to generate a 3D ventricular model. The model allows for the measurement of different geometric parameters such as wall and cavity volumes. Deformation data from tagged MR images can also be incorporated to extract 3D strains throughout the heart. Our technique is useful for determining shape or strain patterns unique to different mouse models of cardiovascular disease.