Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of isoflurane on conventional as well as speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) parameters using mouse model of aging. Methods C57BL/6 mice aged 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 20 months old were enrolled in this study. The Vevo 2100 echocardiographic system was applied. The conventional and STE parameters including left ventricular posterior wall thickness at systolic stage and diastolic stage (LVPWTs, LVPWTd),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular short axis fractional shortening (FS),longitudinal strain (LS)and strain rate (LSr) under 1% and 2% isoflurane anesthesia were compared. Results The levels of LVPWTd,LVPWTs,LVEF,FS,LS and LSr remained unchanged under 1% and 2% isoflurane anesthesia in 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months old mice (P>0.05). While the levels of LVPWTs,LVEDD,LVESD,LVEF, FS, LS and LSr were significantly reduced, and the levels of LVEDD, LVESD were significantly increased under 2% than those under 1% isoflurane anesthesia in 20 months old mice(P<0.05). Conclusions 1% isoflurane anesthesia shows weak effects on the cardiac function in aging mice.

Key words: isoflurane, aging, echocardiography, speckle tracking, mouse