Comparative Imaging Anatomical Study of the Heart and Selected Mediastinal Vessels in the Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The aim of the study was to prove analogy of the results from ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and post mortem transverse study of the rabbit heart and select mediastinal vessels. Ten sexually mature, healthy New Zealand White rabbits, aged 12 months, with a body weight of 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg were investigated. Two - dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in right and left lateral recumbency. The transducer was placed on the thorax for imaging the heart in standard planes (short and long axis). Transverse computed tomography of the thorax was carried out before and after intravenous contrast administration. The animals were positioned in ventrodorsal recumbency. The post mortem transverse frozen cuts of the thorax were 10 mm thick. By the ultrasonographic study the centrally situated hypoechoic lumen of the ascending aorta was found. The hypoechoic left and right atria (proventricles), parts of the right ventricle and pulmonary ostium with the pulmonary valve were visualized peripherally. The entire heart silhouette was observed via computed tomography. The atrioventricular septum was seen as a hypo attenuating structure. The heart ventricles, atria, ascending and descending aorta, esophagus and trachea were visualized. The four heart cavities and major vessels were marked by the post mortem transverse frozen study. The comparative analysis of the data from the ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and post mortem transverse frozen study of the rabbit heart and its mediastinal vessels showed that the results could be applied in the interpretation and diagnosis of the heart and vascular lesions in this species.