High-resolution echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac physiology and disease in preclinical models

Key Findings center dot What is the topic of this review? This review describes the use of high spatial and temporal resolution ultrasound imaging for the evalution of cardiovascular function. center dot What advances does it highlight? This short reveiw succintly highlights the advances in the use of high-resolution ultrasound in the assessment of rodent cardiac function, with emphasis on the differences between human and rodent echocardiography and on the main principles involved in completing a successful echocardiographic study in preclinical models. The high temporal and spatial resolution of echocardiography makes it a powerful and reliable tool for the non-invasive study of cardiac phenotype and disease in both adult and embryonic preclinical models. This overview of the use of high-resolution ultrasound for echocardiography highlights the present and potential applications of the technique.