We describe a technique for measuring aortic stiffness from its pressure-diameter relationship in vivo in mice. Aortic diameter is recorded by ultrasound and aortic pressure is measured invasively with a solid-state pressure catheter. Blood pressure is changed incrementally and the resulting diameter is measured.
Kuo, M. M., Barodka, V., Abraham, T. P., Steppan, J., Shoukas, A. A., Butlin, M., Avolio, A., Berkowitz, D. E., Santhanam, L. Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound. J. Vis. Exp. (94), e52200, doi:10.3791/52200 (2014).