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Doppler flow velocity waveforms in the embryonic chicken heart at developmental stages corresponding to 5–8 weeks of human gestation
Author(s) -
Oosterbaan A. M.,
Ursem N. T. C.,
Struijk P. C.,
Bosch J. G.,
van der Steen A. F. W.,
Steegers E. A. P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.6362
Subject(s) - ventricle , waveform , embryonic heart , medicine , doppler effect , blood flow , ultrasound biomicroscopy , laser doppler velocimetry , ultrasound , anatomy , intracardiac injection , embryogenesis , cardiology , embryo , biology , embryonic stem cell , radiology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , voltage , astronomy , gene
Abstract Objectives To obtain Doppler velocity waveforms from the early embryonic chicken heart by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy and to compare these waveforms at different stages of embryonic development. Methods We collected cardiac waveforms using high‐frequency Doppler ultrasound with a 55‐MHz transducer at Hamburger–Hamilton (HH) stages 18, 21 and 23, which are comparable to humans at 5 to 8 weeks of gestation. Waveforms were obtained at the inflow tract, the primitive left ventricle, the primitive right ventricle and at the outflow tract in 10 different embryos per stage. M‐mode recordings were collected to study opening and closure of the cushions. By exploring the temporal relationship between the waveforms, using a secondary Doppler device, cardiac cycle events were outlined. Results Our results demonstrate that stage‐ and location‐dependent intracardiac blood flow velocity waveforms can be obtained in the chicken embryo. The blood flow profiles assessed at the four locations in the embryonic heart demonstrated an increase in peak velocity with advancing developmental stage. In the primitive ventricle the ‘passive’ (P) filling peak decreased whereas the ‘active’ (A) filling peak increased, resulting in a decrease in P to A ratio with advancing developmental stage. M‐mode recordings demonstrated that the fractional closure time of the atrioventricular cushions increased from 20% at stage HH 18 to 60% at stage HH 23. Conclusion High‐frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy can be used to define flow velocity waveforms in the embryonic chicken heart. This may contribute to an understanding of Doppler signals derived from valveless embryonic human hearts at 5 to 8 weeks of gestation, prior to septation. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.