SERVICES & FEES
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC SERVICES [ request form ]
Non-invasive transthoracic cardiac ultrasound exam performed under light general anesthesia (unless status of animal precludes anesthesia). Both an Acuson Sequoia and Visual Sonics cardiac echocardiography machine with a 15MHz linear transducer are used to characterize the structure and function of the heart and great vessels.
Single Screening Echocardiogram:
Non-invasive single transthoracic cardiac ultrasound exam performed under light general anesthesia that includes two-dimensional and M-mode images of the left ventricle.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with various echo parameters and representative images
Serial Screening Echocardiograms:
Echocardiograms that must occur on specific days, and must be repeated on the same mouse at a specific later date. Includes all the analysis of a screening echocardiogram at each echo date.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with various echo parameters and representative images
Post-Surgical (after TAC, AAB, or NAB)/Tissue Doppler/Diastolic Function Echocardiograms:
Full echocardiograms to document the outcome of a specific surgery other than myocardial infarction (such as TAC or NAB). This echo may include two-dimensional and M-mode images and analysis of the left ventricle, or Doppler recordings of trans-valvular flow indices (gradients), or analysis of diastolic function.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with various echo parameters and representative images. Data on spreadsheet will include gradient measurements at the site of constriction.
Post-Infarction Echocardiograms:
Echo which requires more than M-mode and two-dimensional images because of the presence of regional wall motion abnormalities (ex. Infarction studies). These echoes are performed on the Visual Sonics Echo machine.Data provided at study end:
Vascular Echocardiogram using Visual Sonics Echo Machine: (F/C)
Echo to delineate structural and functional abnormalities of the aorta or other vessels. Includes an analysis of these parameters and data reporting. – ONLY DONE in collaborations with Attila Kovacs.Data provided at study end:
Customized Echocardiography using the Visual Sonics Echocardiography Machine:
Includes studies that the echocardiographer and PI have discussed in detail and that are not offered on a routine basis. Analysis and data reporting will be included.Data provided at study end:
Emergency Echocardiograms:
Previously unscheduled echoes that are necessary to do immediately because mouse is in newly discovered end-stage heart failure and may expire, or other emergent condition.Data provided at study end:
Alternate Species Echocardiograms:
Echocardiograms of any species other than mice.Data provided at study end:
EXERCISE SERVICES [ request form ]
Tech Assisted Treadmill and Swimming:
Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet documenting total time of exercise, failure periods, speed, and incline.
Tech Assisted Oxymax Study:
Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet documenting changes in exchange gases during period of testing.
Mandatory One-time Tech Assisted Training (if using equipment without a tech for future studies)
Facility Charge for Equipment Use without a Tech
Organ Harvest after Exercise:
HEMODYNAMIC SERVICES [ request form ]
A 1.4 French Millar catheter instrument system with customized programs is used for analyzing hemodynamic parameters in mice. The catheter is routinely placed into the left ventricle through the right carotid artery. We can catheterize mice as small as 16 grams. With careful catheter placement, maintenance of basal temperatures and good heart rates we are able to obtain measurements of LVEDP, HR, dp/dt and tau.
Hemodynamics I:
Includes surgical cutdown, Millar catheter placement, and recording of aortic pressures only.Data provided at study end:
Hemodynamics II:
Includes surgical cutdown, Millar catheter placement in left ventricle, recording of LV pressures and derivation of LV peak pressures, LV end-diastolic pressure, ± dp/dt, and tau.Data provided at study end:
Hemodynamics III:
Hemodynamics III includes surgical cutdown, Millar catheter placement into left ventricle and recording of LV pressure under multiple physiologic conditions such as pre-post pharmacologic interventions, plus derivation of standard indices of LV function for each condition.Data provided at study end:
Hemodynamics IV:
Includes surgical cutdown, Millar pressure-volume catheter placement into the left ventricle and recording of LV pressures and volumes under multiple physiologic conditions. Analysis includes derivation of indexes of LV function derived from simultaneous LV pressure-volume recordings (load-independent measurements).Data provided at study end:
Organ Harvest post Hemodynamic study:
Includes simple histo prep of weighing heart, slicing tissue, and preserving in formalin or liquid nitrogen.Data provided at study end:
SURGICAL SERVICES [ request form ]
Transverse Aortic Constriction (TAC):
Operative placement of constriction on the transverse aorta. Includes recording mouse weight, echocardiography at study end, euthanasia at study end, and if desired, organ harvest and determination of left ventricular weight. Additional echocardiographic studies can be requested. Study end will be 1-week post TAC unless requested otherwise.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with end echo parameters, mouse weight before surgery, surgical intervention (sham or band), and heart weight
Neonatal Ascending Aortic Banding (NAB):
Operative placement of a “loose” constriction on the ascending aorta of 18-22 day old mice only. Includes recording mouse weight, echocardiography at study end (8-12 weeks), euthanasia at end of study, and if desired, organ harvest and determination of left ventricular weight. Additional echocardiographic studies can be requested. Study end will be two months post NAB unless requested otherwise.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with end echo parameters, mouse weight before surgery, surgical intervention (sham or band), and heart weight
Adult Ascending Aortic Banding (AAB):
Operative placement of constriction on ascending aorta of adult mice (preferably 18-28 gram weight). Includes recording mouse weight, 1 echo study at experiment end time, and if desired, euthanasia at study end with organ harvest and determination of left ventricular weight. Additional echocardiographic studies can be requested. Study end will be one month post AAB unless requested otherwise.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with end echo parameters, mouse weight before surgery, surgical intervention (sham or band), and heart weight
Myocardial Infarction (MI):
Operative placement of a permanent occlusion around the left anterior descending artery of the mouse heart. Includes recording mouse weight, echocardiography at study end, and if desired, euthanasia at study end with organ harvest and left ventricular weight measurements. Additional echocardiographic studies can be requested. Study end will be one month post MI unless requested otherwise.Data provided at study end: Spreadsheet with end echo parameters including regional wall differences, mouse weight before surgery, and surgical intervention (sham or MI)
Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion (with image analysis):
Operative placement of an occluder around the left anterior descending artery that is removed after 30 minutes of occlusion. The heart is allowed to reperfuse for 24 hours and is then stained to calculate a normal region, area at risk, and infarcted region. Image analysis is then performed and an end data report is provided documenting these areas as a % of the heart. No echo is included.Data provided at study end: Images of the staining distribution in each heart slice and spreadsheet documenting %Area at risk and Infarct% of the area at risk
Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion (without image analysis):
Operative placement of an occluder around the left anterior descending artery that is removed after 30 minutes of occlusion. The heart is allowed to reperfuse for 24 hours and is then stained with vital dyes to delineate a normal region, area at risk, and infarcted region. No image analysis or echo is included.Data provided at study end: No data, just a heart in formalin that has been stained with vital dyes to delineate normal, risk, and infracted tissue.
Tissue Fixation (in vivo heart perfusions) for Histology:
Entails carotid catheter placement, fixative injection into the heart, euthanasia and organ harvest.Data provided at study end: A heart in formalin.
Customized Surgeries:
Specialized surgery not listed above but agreed upon by surgeon and investigator.Injections of Pharmacological Agents (defined by PI): price varies (contact Carla Weinheimer)
ECG TELEMETRIC MONITORING SERVICES [ request form ]
Implantation of Transmitters and EKG Recording:
This procedure includes implantation of transmitters, post-operative single ECG recording for 24 hours and transmitter removal. Additional recording time is available. Heart rates/representative rhythm strips are provided at study end. (Services do not include arrhythmia monitoring or identification of ectopy.)Data provided at study end: Summary report including surgery, survival, implant information and recording dates; spreadsheets of scheduled sampling times, heart rates and averages; printouts of representative ECG traces; and ascii files of complete data sets upon request.
Extra Services with EKG Telemetry:
Additional Recording Sessions:
Pharmacological Injections during study: Price varies (contact Kathryn Yamada)
Exercise Concomitant with EKG telemetry: (in addition to Exercise Request charges)
Organ Harvest:
Training in Data Interrogation:
BLOOD PRESSURE TELEMETRY SERVICES [ request form ]
Implantation of Blood Pressure Transmitters and Blood Pressure Recording:
This procedure includes implantation of transmitters and carotid artery catheterization with a polyurethane ticking. Post-operative carotid pressure recordings for a single 24 hr recording session and eventual transmitter removal are included. Blood pressure fluctuations are recorded and data is collected and categorized. Blood pressure wave forms are provided at study end.
- Cost includes refurbishment of blood pressure catheter. Cost reflects amount we are charged for refurbs and may, therefore, be increased without advanced notice if the amount charged by Data Sciences increases.
Data provided at study end: Summary report including surgery, survival, implant information and recording dates; spreadsheets of scheduled sampling times, mean pressures, systolic and diastolic pressures, pulse pressures, heart rates and averages; printouts of representative blood pressure traces; and ascii files of complete data sets upon request.
Extra Services with BP Telemetry:
Additional Recording Sessions:
Pharmacological Injections during study: Price varies (contact Kathryn Yamada)
Exercise Concomitant with BP telemetry: (in addition to Exercise Request charges)
Organ Harvest
ISOLATED MOUSE WORKING HEART PERFUSIONS [ request form ]
Isolated working heart (IWH) is a powerful technique to measure cardiac metabolic fluxes directly in an ex vivo perfused heart. With suitable radioactive tracers, variety of substrate metabolism can be measured using this technique. Also, variety of substrate and insulin mixes can be used to mimic various patho-physiological conditions like insulin resistance, diabetes, fasting, etc. Working heart perfusions can also be performed at different workloads, for example: higher after-load and/or pre-load pressures, higher heart rates (by electrical pacing), etc. On a routine basis, the following IWH services are available as listed below.
60 Minute Aerobic Perfusion
This study can be performed to measure the basal rates of glucose oxidation, palmitate oxidation, and glycolysis. In addition, basic parameters of ex vivo cardiac function will be determined (see #3 & 4).
- Anesthetize (terminal) and excise heart for perfusion.
- Perfuse them for 60 minutes under aerobic condition with different substrates (depending on the study question) with radio labeled tracers to measure rates of:
a. glucose oxidation
b. palmitate oxidation
c. glycolysis (in a separate heart)
- Monitor hemodynamics like peak systolic pressure (with pressure transducer placed in aortic line), heart rate, cardiac output, and aortic flow.
- Calculate parameters like coronary flow (cardiac output – aortic output), cardiac work (Peak Systolic Pressure x cardiac output), Cardiac power (product of developed pressure and cardiac output), stroke work (cardiac work/heart rate), stroke volume (cardiac output/heart rate), rate pressure product (Peak systolic pressure x heart rate).
All measurements are done every 10 minutes for 60 minutes. All values are normalized for bi-ventricular dry weight.
Ischemia/ Reperfusion
Ischemia/ reperfusion involves 30 minutes aerobic perfusion to obtain basal metabolic and functional measurements, 18 minutes (or less depending on the study) of global ischemia followed by 40 minutes of reperfusion with oxygenated buffer to obtain functional and metabolic parameters during post-ischemic recovery. Steps 1- 4 under ‘60 minute aerobic perfusion’ remain the same. Measurements will be taken every 10 minutes for 30 minutes during pre-ischemic and for 40 minutes during post-ischemic periods. No measurements can be taken during ischemia.
Data provided at study end: Summary of metabolic fluxes and cardiac functions in Excel spreadsheets and Excel bar graphs will be provided one week after the perfusions are complete.
Not routinely performed but can be conducted if needed
Other metabolic fluxes: Ketone body (Beta Hydroxy Butyrate) oxidation Pyruvate oxidation Lactate oxidation Upon request, hearts can also be freeze-clamped at the end of the perfusion for any further biochemical examination (liquid nitrogen must be provided by the PI).
Center
for Cardiovascular Research
Washington University
School of Medicine