Hemodynamics of atherosclerotic mice

Apolipoprotein-E knockout mice are often used as models of human atherosclerosis, but little is known of the hemodynamic consequences. Using noninvasive Doppler methods, it was found that heart rate and blood pressure were normal but that aortic pulse wave velocity, mean aortic and mitral blood velocities, and peripheral wave reflections were increased. It was also demonstrated that heart weight/body weight ratio was increased, and that hematocrit was decreased. The changes are consistent with decreased peripheral vascular resistance and compliance and with volume overload cardiac hypertrophy.