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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/4/627    most recent expphysiol.2005.030148v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Siepe, M. Articles by Tevaearai, H. T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Siepe, M. Articles by Tevaearai, H. T Related Collections Cardiovascular control

¹ Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland ² Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany

In humans, the lateral recumbent position has a beneficial effect on haemodynamics. If this effect is substantial in small animals too, there is a risk of misinterpretation in preclinical investigations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the impact of acute changes in body position on haemodynamics in rats. Healthy rats (n = 21) and rats post myocardial infarction (n = 20) were randomly positioned supine, prone, or on the right or left side. In each position, we measured haemodynamic parameters by pressure-tip catheter and thermodilution. We found that left ventricular contractility (dP/dt_max) was significantly elevated in both lateral positions as compared to the supine position in healthy rats. In healthy rats and following infarction, cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume index (SVI) were significantly higher in both lateral positions as compared to the supine or prone position. Of importance, if SVI values in the supine position in healthy rats (0.095 ± 0.003 ml (100 g)^–1) are compared to SVI values measured in different positions after myocardial infarction, the SVI can be either significantly lower in the supine (0.084 ± 0.003 ml (100 g)^–1) or significantly higher in the left lateral position (0.105 ± 0.003 ml (100 g)^–1). We conclude that post myocardial infarction and in healthy control rats, important haemodynamic values are increased in lateral positions as compared to prone or supine positions. Analysing haemodynamic data in rats may therefore result in misinterpretation if the body position is inconsistent.

(Received 25 January 2005; accepted after revision 15 April 2005; first published online 22 April 2005)
Corresponding author M. Siepe: Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, DKF MEM C-812, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Email: matthias.siepe{at}web.de

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