Despite the use of inbred animals, phenotypic variability is usually encountered in rats subjected to pressure overload. This chapter describes techniques for creating a rat model of pressure overload by ascending aortic banding procedure and noninvasive characterization of the variable phenotypes by means of echocardiography. We address the variable phenotypes encountered in this model with moderate versus severe ascending aortic banding. We also describe some of the echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters and the degree of interstitial fibrosis and extracellular matrix remodeling encountered in each of the different phenotypes.
Animals Aorta