Here, we provide a useful approach for studying the mechanism of right ventricular failure. A more convenient and efficient approach to pulmonary artery constriction is established using surgical instruments made inhouse. In addition, methods to evaluate the quality of this approach by echocardiography and catheterization are provided.
The mechanism of right ventricular failure (RVF) requires clarification due to the uniqueness, high morbidity, high mortality, and refractory nature of RVF. Previous rat models imitating RVF progression have been described. Compared with rats, mice are more accessible, economical, and widely used in animal experiments. We developed a pulmonary artery constriction (PAC) approach which is comprised of banding the pulmonary trunk in mice to induce right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. A special surgical latch needle was designed that allows for easier separation of the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. In our experiments, the use of this fabricated latch needle reduced the risk of arteriorrhexis and improved the surgical success rate to 90%. We used different padding needle diameters to precisely create quantitative constriction, which can induce different degrees of RV hypertrophy. We quantified the degree of constriction by evaluating the blood flow velocity of the PA, which was measured by noninvasive transthoracic echocardiography. RV function was precisely evaluated by right heart catheterization at 8 weeks after surgery. The surgical instruments made inhouse were composed of common materials using a simple process that is easy to master. Therefore, the PAC approach described here is easy to imitate using instruments made in the lab and can be widely used in other labs. This study presents a modified PAC approach that has a higher success rate than other models and an 8-week postsurgery survival rate of 97.8%. This PAC approach provides a useful technique for studying the mechanism of RVF and will enable an increased understanding of RVF.
RV dysfunction (RVD), defined here as evidence of an abnormal RV structure or function, is associated with poor clinical outcomes. RVF, as the end stage of RV function, is a clinical syndrome with signs and symptoms of heart failure that result from progressive RVD1. With differences in structure and physiological function, left ventricular (LV) failure and RVF have different pathophysiological mechanisms. A few independent pathophysiological mechanisms in RVF have been reported, including overexpression of β2-adrenergic receptor signaling2, inflammation3, transverse tubule remodeling, and Ca2+ handling dysfunction4.
RVF can be caused by volume or pressure overload of the RV. Previous animal models have used SU5416 (a potent and selective inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) combined with hypoxia (SuHx)5,6 or monocrotaline7 to induce pulmonary hypertension, which results in RVF secondary to pulmonary vascular disease2. The researchers conducting these studies focused on the vasculature instead of the pathological progression of RVF. Moreover, monocrotaline has extra-cardiac effects that cannot precisely represent cardiogenic disease. Other models have used arteriovenous shunts to induce volume overload and RVF8. However, this surgery is difficult to perform and inappropriate for mice, who require long induction periods for the production of RVF.
Rat PAC models using banding clips also exist9,10. Compared with rats, mice have many advantages as animal models of cardiac diseases, such as easier reproduction, more widespread use, reduced costs, and access to gene modification11. However, the diameters of the banding clips usually range from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm, which are too large for mice9. In addition, the banding clip is hard to produce, imitate, and popularize in other labs.
We provide a protocol to develop a modified reproductive RVF mouse model based on reported studies, which uses PAC to mimic the tetralogy of Fallot and Noonan syndrome or other pulmonary arterial hypertensive diseases12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19. This PAC approach is created by ligating the pulmonary trunk of mice using a latch and padding needle made inhouse to control the degree of constriction. The latch needle is made of a 90° curved injection syringe with a braided silk suture passed through the syringe. The needle is made from common materials using a process that is easy to master. The padding needle is curved 120° from the gauge needle. Padding needles with different diameters (0.6-0.8 mm) are used, depending on the mice's weight (20-35 g). Additionally, we establish an evaluation criterion to determine the stability and quality of the RVF model by echocardiography and right heart catheterization. We use mice as the model animal because of their widespread use in other experiments. The needles made in the lab are easy to reproduce and can be widely used in other labs. This study provides a good approach for researchers to investigate the mechanism of RVF.
All procedures were performed in accordance with institutional guidelines for animal research, which conform to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH Publication No. 85-23, revised in 1996). C57BL/6 male mice (8-10 weeks old, weighing 20-25 g) were provided by the Animal Center of South Medical University. After arrival, the mice were housed under a 12/12 h dark/light cycle, with sufficient food and water.
1. Preparation of the surgical instruments and fabrication of the needles
2. Preparation for surgery
3. Surgery
4. Echocardiographic assessment of the RV function after surgery
NOTE: Echocardiographic changes can be detected 3 days after surgery.
5. Right heart catheterization for assessing the RV function
NOTE: Right heart catheterization was performed 8 weeks after surgery to assess the RV function, using a 1.0 F catheter and a monitoring system.
In this study, mice were randomly assigned to the PAC group (n = 9) or the sham operation group (n = 10). Echocardiography was performed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the surgery. Eight weeks after surgery, following the last echocardiography and catheterization assessments, the mice were euthanized, and their hearts were harvested for a morphological and histological assessment.
Pulmonary trunk constriction caused RV hypertrophy (Figure 2). Compared with the sham group, a higher peak velocity (Figure 2A, C), greater pressure gradient (Figure 2A,D), and greater RV wall thickness (Figure 2B,E) from the parasternal long-axis view were obtained at 8 weeks after surgery in the PAC group. Additionally, the systolic function of the RV (RV ejection fraction and RV fraction shortening) was significantly reduced in the PAC group when compared with the sham group 8 weeks after the surgery (Figure 2F, G).
We found that the RV systolic and diastolic function were impaired 8 weeks after PAC (Figure 3A–E). The PAC group had a higher RV pressure in the systole and diastole, and the contractility index was reduced in the PAC group compared with that of the sham group. The RV Tau was greater in the PAC group than in the sham group, and RV dP/dt was also greater than that in the sham group. These results showed that RV dysfunction was induced in mice after 8 weeks of pulmonary artery banding. When we performed invasive hemodynamic testing in the RV, the heart rate, which was determined using a physiological recording system, remained stable before and after catheter monitoring (Figure 3F).
RV remodeling induced by PAC is shown in Figure 4. Compared to the sham group, the RV dimension was significantly enlarged, and the RV weight was higher in the PAC group. Factors that indicate the degree of RV hypertrophy, such as the heart weight/body weight ratio, RV/(left ventricle + septum), and RV/tibial length, were greater after 8 weeks of PAC than those of the sham group. Moreover, a histological examination showed that cardiac fibrosis and the area covered by cardiomyocytes were greater in the PAC group than in the sham group. In summary, we developed a reproductive, inexpensive, and easy RVF model and established evaluation criteria to successfully evaluate the RVF model.
Figure 1: Surgical instruments, tools made inhouse, and materials required for the PAC procedures. (A) The surgical instruments used for the PAC procedure. (B) (a) 6-0 medical braided silk suture and (b) 5-0 medical nylon suture. (C) Tools made inhouse. (a) Latch needle. (b) Padding needle. (c) Spatula made inhouse. (d) Endotracheal intubation. (D). Animal mini-ventilator. (E) ALC-V8S ventilator. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: Representative results of ultrasound imaging of the pulmonary trunk and the RV function of sham and PAC mice. (A) Color and pulsed-wave Doppler imaging of the pulmonary trunk of mice after 8 weeks. Red marks represented blood flow toward the probe; Blue marks represented the blood flow backward the probe. (B) B-mode and M-mode ultrasound imaging of the RV of sham and PAC mice after 8 weeks. (a) Right ventricle. (b) Left ventricle. (C) The RV peak velocity PLAX (V), (D) pressure gradient (pressure gradient = 4 x V2), and (E) RV wall thickness from the parasternal long-axis view were significantly increased after 8 weeks. (F) The RV short axis shortening rate (RVFS) was significantly reduced after 8 weeks. (G) The RV ejection fraction (RVEF) was significantly reduced after 8 weeks. For panels C–G,*P < 0.01 vs. sham operation (n = 9 in the PAC group, n = 10 in the sham group). PAC = pulmonary artery constriction. The data are presented as mean ± SEM. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3: Representative results of the RV hemodynamics in mice subjected to PAC or a sham operation, 8 weeks after the surgery. (A) Representative curves of RVP and RV dP/dt in sham and PAC mice at 8 weeks after the surgery. (B) Right ventricular systolic blood pressure (RVSBP) and right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP). (C) RV maximum and minimum dP/dt. (D) RV Tau. (E) Contractility index. (F) Heart rate. RVP = right ventricular pressure; RVSBP = right ventricular systolic blood pressure; RVEDP = right ventricular end-diastolic pressure; Tau = exponential time constant of relaxation; max and min dp/dt = maximum and minimum rise and decline in right ventricular pressure; PAC = pulmonary artery constriction. For panels B-F, n = 9 in the PAC group and n = 10 in the sham group. *P < 0.01 vs. sham operation. The data are presented as mean ± SEM. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4: Pulmonary artery constriction in mice leads to RV remodeling after 8 weeks. (A) Representative images of the whole heart (the scale bar = 3 mm). (a) Right atrium, red arrow: ligation of the pulmonary artery trunk. (B) Heart weight/body weight ratio (HW/BW). (C) Ratio of the right ventricular mass to left ventricular mass plus septum mass (RV/[LV+S]). (D) Ratio of the right ventricular mass to tibial length (RV/TL). For panels B–D, n = 9 in the PAC group and n = 10 in the sham group. *P < 0.01 vs. sham operation. (E) Representative images of cardiac cross-sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin (first row: the scale bar = 2 mm; second row: the scale bar = 50 µm). (F) Representative Masson-stained images of myocardial fibrosis in each group. The scale bar = 100 µm. For panels E and F, n = 4 in each group. *P < 0.01 vs. the sham group. RV = right ventricle; PAC = pulmonary artery constriction. RV/[LV+S] = ratio of the right ventricular mass to left ventricular mass plus septum mass. The data are presented as mean ± SEM. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Pathological increases in RV filling pressures result in a leftward shift of the septum, which can alter the LV geometry21. These changes contribute to reduced cardiac output and LV ejection fraction (LVEF), which can cause a hemodynamic disorder of the circulatory system22. Therefore, an efficient, stable, and economical model for studying the mechanism of RVF is valuable.
We developed a more effective and highly reproducible approach to PAC using a latch and padding needle made inhouse. The latch made inhouse allows for an easier separation of the aorta and the pulmonary trunk, which reduces the risk of arteriorrhexis and improves the surgical success rate. By selecting different diameters of the padding needle, we induced differing degrees of RV hypertrophy.
Even though the general procedures of pulmonary trunk banding described here are like those described in previous reports4,9,10,14,15, we made improvements to the surgical instruments. Thus, we reduced the difficulty of the operation, shortened the operating time, and increased the success rate of the surgery. The diameters of the padding needles we used ranged from 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm, and these were only suitable when the mice weighed between 20 g and 35 g. In rats, the application of the padding needles (0.6-0.8 mm) may lead to acute RVF and death. In addition, the padding needles (0.6-0.8 mm) may not easily lead to RVD if the mice weigh less than 20 g. Therefore, the correct padding needle diameter should be selected according to the weight of the animal.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is usually induced by a subcutaneous injection of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor SU5416 and feeding in a hypoxic environment for longer than 3 weeks23,24,25,26,27,28. These conditions mimic the pathophysiological process of chronic ischemia and hypoxia of the pulmonary artery to induce PAH and pulmonary artery fibrosis. However, RV remodeling, hypertrophy, or RVF requires more than 12 weeks for induction by chronic hypoxia in these models. Additionally, SU5416 and hypoxic treatment may affect other organs. Furthermore, expensive machines are required to create a hypoxic environment. Therefore, a faster and more efficient model of RVF is required. Reddy et al. reported a method of RV remodeling by entrapping the two anterior-most pulmonary valve leaflets13. Instead of using a microscope and expensive surgical vascular clips29, we used a latch needle and different types of padding needles made inhouse to precisely create a quantitative constriction along with an evaluation of blood flow velocity by echocardiography.
In addition, the latch and padding needle made inhouse were also used to induce transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. The latch made inhouse can also be used to induce PAC or TAC in rats. During transposition of the great vessels, the LV does not encounter sufficient resistance, so it needs to be strengthened by applying pulmonary artery constriction in preparation for corrective surgery30,31. The PAC approach we provided can result in elevated pulmonary artery resistance, which will help studies of the underlying mechanisms. In the setting of a heart transplantation, the donor RV may be acutely exposed to elevated pulmonary artery resistance in the recipient, causing the RV to fail. The PAC method presented here can help studies of the mechanisms of post-heart transplantation complications32,33 and congenital heart diseases34.
The PAC approach has a few limitations. First, the RVD induced by the ligature around the pulmonary trunk cannot imitate RVD in PAH5,7. Second, PAC causes a very sudden increase in RV afterload that is different from the gradual increase in pulmonary vascular resistance in PAH9,19.
Consistent with the results presented here, previous reports have shown that significant increases under echocardiographic testing in pulmonary valve peak velocity, RV wall thickness, and RV diastolic internal diameter demonstrate successful constriction and hypertrophy of the RV13,35. Increased RV pressure, RV dP/dt, and contractility index indicate the development of RVF and a decompensated period of RV function36. In conclusion, we demonstrated the application of two novel lab-made instruments to establish RVD in an inexpensive and convenient way. We used a noninvasive echocardiographic technique and invasive right heart catheterization to evaluate the quality of the RVF method.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81570464, 81770271; to Dr. Liao) and the Municipal Planning Projects of Scientific Technology of Guangzhou (201804020083) (to Dr. Liao).
ALC-V8S ventilator | SHANGHAI ALCOTT BIOTECH CO | ALC-V8S | Assist ventilation |
Animal Mini Ventilator | Haverd | Type 845 | Assist ventilation |
Animal ultrasound system VEVO2100 | Visual Sonic | VEVO2100 | Echocardiography |
Cold light illuminator | Olympus | ILD-2 | Light |
Heat pad- thermostatic surgical system (ALC-HTP-S1) | SHANGHAI ALCOTT BIOTECH CO | ALC-HTP-S1 | Heating |
Isoflurane | RWD life science | R510-22 | Inhalant anaesthesia |
Matrx VIP 3000 Isofurane Vaporizer | Midmark Corporation | VIP 3000 | Anesthetization |
Medical braided silk suture (6-0) | Shanghai Pudong Jinhuan Medical Supplies Co. | 6-0 | Ligation |
Medical nylon suture (5-0) | Ningbo Medical Needle Co. | 5-0 | Suture |
Millar Catheter (1.0 F) | AD instruments | 1.0F | For right heart catheterization |
Pentobarbital sodium salt | Merck | 25MG | Anesthetization |
PowerLab multi-Directional physiological Recording System | AD instruments | 4/35 | Record the result of right heart catheterization |
Precision electronic balance | Denver Instrument | TB-114 | Weighing sensor |
Self-made latch needle | Separate the aorta and pulmonary trunk | ||
Self-made padding needle | Constriction | ||
Self-made tracheal intubation | Tracheal intubation | ||
Small animal microsurgery equipment | Napox | MA-65 | Surgical instruments |
Transmission Gel | Guang Gong pai | 250ML | Echocardiography |
Veet hair removal cream | Reckitt Benchiser | RQ/B 33 Type 2 | Remove hair of mice |
Vertical automatic electrothermal pressure steam sterilizer | Hefei Huatai Medical Equipment Co. | LX-B50L | Auto clean the surgical instruments |
Vertical small animal surgery microscope | Yihua Optical Instrument | Y-HX-4A | For right heart catheterization |