RVC collaboration creates first 3D cat heart model
The new models could help prevent thrombi in humans and animals.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has collaborated with Spain's Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) to generate 3D reconstructions of the hearts of different animals.
Using advanced computational techniques, the reconstructions can simulate cats' blood flows, therefore reducing experimentation on animals.
The models will mainly focus on reconstructing the animals' left atrium. This is because it is the part of the heart where thrombi (or blood clots) which cause heart attacks occur.
It is hoped that studying these reconstructions, and comparing them to existing models of the human heart, will support useful conclusions that could prevent thrombi in humans and animals. Future projects will see researchers create 3D models of the hearts of dogs, pigs and sheep.
Researchers began the project by studying cats' hearts, as the heart tissue has characteristics revealing the relationship between heart morphology and thrombi.
When investigating the human heart, studies will usually focus on clots and atrial fibrillation. Alterations of movements of the heart muscle can cause blood to accumulate in the left atrium of the heart, increasing the risk of a thrombus.
However, there are still unknown factors regarding the relationship between the human heart and clotting.
Since cats do not suffer arrhythmias, clots occur solely due to heart morphology and blood flow. This will allow researchers to study the links between thrombi and heart morphology without the interference of arrhythmias.
To create the 3D model, researchers examined the left atrium morphology and haemodynamics of 24 cats. This included eight healthy cats and 16 with different cardiac pathologies.
Using medical images from the cats' veterinary clinics, researchers implemented advanced computational techniques to reconstruct the left atria.
The study has already offered new insights linking the morphological features of cats' hearts to different pathologies.
Cats with a larger left atrium and a larger left atrial appendage proved to be at an increased risk of clotting. The risk of thrombi was also increased when blood circulated more slowly or the left atrial appendage was curved – which forces blood to zigzag to circulate.
Researchers also note that that the left atrial appendage has trabeculae which, if numerous, could stop blood flow and lead to clots.
Since previous studies of the human left atrium have reached similar conclusions, researchers believe the 3D models prove beneficial for both feline and human health. However, more feline samples will be needed to understand heart behaviour better.
Future projects will also see the team examine the left atrium of dogs, pigs and sheep as they complete their cross-sectional study.
The full study can be found in the journal Scientific Reports.
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