Noninvasive and Invasive Study of the Pumping Function of Rat Heart in Myocardial Infarction

The cardiohemodynamics was studied 2 and 4 weeks after myocardial infarction modeling in Wistar rats. We compared the data obtained by echocardiography (echoCG) and catheterization of the left ventricle. The myocardial infarction was modeled by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. EchoCG and the left ventricle catheterization were performed before and after myocardial infarction modeling. Similar results were obtained by both methods, namely the left ventricle dilatation, bradycardia, a reduced ejection fraction and delayed relaxation. According to echoCG, the end-diastolic left ventricle volume increased by 2 times, and initial diastolic left ventricle volume — by more than 5 times. The left ventricle catheterization showed lower rise, by 32 and 69%, respectively. The overestimated volume of the left ventricle in myocardial infarction according to echoCG data in comparison with catheterization can be explained by changes in the geometry of the ventricle (bulging of a part of the ventricular wall).