Figure 2.

Doppler measurements of blood flow across the mitral valve within the LV show impaired cardiac function in 10-week-old SMGRKO mice. (A) Schematic representation of a Doppler trace indicating isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT), ejection time (ET) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) used to derive the myocardial performance index (MPI). Representative Doppler traces highlight the elongated IVCT in SMGRKO mice, compared to littermate controls (circled). (B) Elongation of the IVCT underlies the detrimental elevation in MPI in 10-week-old SMGRKO mice (black/hatched bars) compared to littermate controls (white bars) (N = 11–16). Data are means ± s.e.m. and were analysed using an unpaired t-test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.