Intravascular Ultrasound Catheter Evaluation of the Left Ventricle in Mice: A Feasibility Study.

With the advent of transgenic technology, it has become increasingly important to find a method for evaluating left ventricular (LV) anatomy and function in intact wild type, intervened, and transgenic mice. Mice are 1/10th the size of rats, and have body masses of 10-60 g, LV masses of 40-150 mg, LV wall thicknesses of 0.5-2 mm, and LV internal dimensions of 1-3 mm.