ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the parameters of cardiac structure and function of male Balb/c mice by the echocardiography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 27 male Balb/c mice (from five to seven week old) were examined with a 13-MHz transthoracic linear-array transducer, hearts were removed from mice anesthetized with Nembutal, and the left ventricular (LV) mass were weighed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete 2-dimensional echocardiography for cardiac structure and function were obtained. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded. A correlation existed between LV weight (x) and echocardiographic LV mass (y) with the 2D) guided M-mode method: y = 1.15x + 3.26, (r = 0.80).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Echocardiography appears to be a promising approach for noninvasively assessing LV mass and function in mice.</p>