Long-term Blood Pressure Measurement in Freely Moving Mice Using Telemetry

Abstract

During the development of new vasoactive agents, arterial blood pressure monitoring is crucial for evaluating the efficacy of the new proposed drugs. Indeed, research focusing on the discovery of new potential therapeutic targets using genetically altered mice requires a reliable, long-term assessment of the systemic arterial pressure variation. Currently, the gold standard for obtaining long-term measurements of blood pressure in ambulatory mice uses implantable radio-transmitters, which require artery cannulation. This technique eliminates the need for tethering, restraining, or anesthetizing the animals which introduce stress and artifacts during data sampling. However, arterial blood pressure monitoring in mice via catheterization can be rather challenging due to the small size of the arteries. Here we present a step-by-step guide to illustrate the crucial key passages for a successful subcutaneous implantation of radio-transmitters and carotid artery cannulation in mice. We also include examples of long-term blood pressure activity taken from freely moving mice after a period of post-surgery recovery. Following this procedure will allow reliable direct blood pressure recordings from multiple animals simultaneously.

Elevated plasma catecholamines functionally compensate for the reduced myogenic tone in smooth muscle STIM1 knockout mice but with deleterious cardiac effects

“…BP was assessed by implantable radio transmitters as previously described in. 23 Briefly, mice (weight > 20 g) were implanted with transmitters (model HD-X11, Data Sciences International), while under isoflurane anaesthesia. The catheter tip was placed near the ascending aorta via the right carotid artery and the emitter inserted subcutaneously in the dorsal right flank.…”

Development and Evaluation of a Disease Large Animal Model for Preclinical Assessment of Renal Denervation Therapies

“…Another limitation is related to the physiological responses of primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA), that is not the most common form of clinical hypertension. However, the decrease in blood pressure following surgical denervation of a DOCA swine model [33] supports the potential use for this model in catheter-based RDN studies. Third, the sample size is small, especially taking into account the high attrition rate.…”

“…Nowadays, measurement of BP by radiotelemetry has been described and validated for many laboratory animal species. This technique eliminates the need for tethering or restraining the animals, which introduce stress and artifacts during data sampling [33]. However, the use of this method is limited due to its prohibitive cost, especially when not used frequently.…”

Comparison among different methods for blood pressure monitoring in rats: literature review

“…Any pathology that involves BP or cardiac function changes can benefit from this procedure of monitoring. Also, medical effects from vasoactive agents can be observed or any drug safety can be monitored with this technique (Alam et al, 2016;Behr-Roussel et al, 2008;Brockway et al, 1991;Oudot et al, 2009). Radiotelemetry was used in a study were pharmacological response over cardiac effects were investigated with different drugs like remifentanil, dopamine, morphine, atenolol, itraconazol, etc.…”