Visualsonics vevo 3100 imaging system

Adult mice were anesthetized in a 4% isoflurane chamber and then intubated with a 20G angiocatheter. General anesthesia was maintained with 1.5% to 4% isoflurane during mechanical ventilation at a respiratory rate of 180 breaths per minute. The mice were placed in right lateral decubitus position, and the left chest was shaved and sterilely prepped. 1 mg/kg bupivacaine and 0.5 mg/kg Buprenorphine were injected subcutaneously for perioperative analgesia. A 1 cm left thoracotomy incision was made, and the pericardium was opened. The LCA was identified and permanently ligated using a 6-0 polypropylene suture. The chest was then closed in layers using 5-0 polypropylene sutures. Isoflurane was then weaned off and the mice were extubated after regaining physiological respirations. 5 mg/kg Carprofen was injected subcutaneously daily for the first 3 days after surgery for postoperative analgesia. For adult MI experiments, 2 to 3 months old mice were used (both males and females). To activate Cre, a single dose of 6 mg tamoxifen intraperitoneal injections were administered to each mouse, 2 days before MI. Echocardiograms were obtained from P32/P33 adult mice (sham or MI surgeries at P2) ≈30 days post-MI using VisualSonics Vevo 3100 imaging system (FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc) with an MX400 20–46 MHz transducer. Data were analyzed using Vevo LAB Version 3.1.0 (Build 13029).