title: Time dependent changes of arterial distensibility induced by cholesterol and balloon injury in rabbits: an in vivo intravascular ultrasound study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to validate in vivo measurement of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the analysis of structural and functional vessel wall alterations in a chronic animal model. Furthermore, the relation between functional and structural alteration of the vessel wall should be investigated. Fifteen cholesterol-fed rabbits (1%) and 15 control rabbits underwent balloon injury of the abdominal aorta. Immediately before and after balloon traumatization as well as 2 and 6 weeks later IVUS depiction of 10 aortal vessel segments was performed (n = 1,100 measurements). In vivo IVUS measurements and morphometric analysis of the neointimal area of same aortal segments showed a high correlation (n = 148, r = 0.844, p < 0.001). Plaque area determined by morphometry revealed larger areas than the evaluation by IVUS (0.162 +/- 0.138 vs. 0.130 +/- 0.126 mm2, p < 0.001). Before balloon traumatization, pulsatility of the aortal vessel segments was less in cholesterol-fed rabbits (0.067 vs. 0.090, p < 0.01) and neointimal index higher (0.003 vs. 0). Investigation using IVUS 2 and 6 weeks after balloon traumatization demonstrated a continuous loss of arterial distensibility and an increase of neointimal index, being more pronounced in the cholesterol-fed group. As demonstrated by IVUS the loss of distensibility preceded the atherosclerotic alterations. Our investigation suggests using IVUS in this animal model is a reliable setting for long-term investigation of characteristics of the vessel wall. We could demonstrate that altered function of the vessel wall precedes the structural atherosclerotic vessel wall alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Münster and Institute for Arteriosclerosis Research at the University of Münster, Münster, Germany. ribbing@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribbing
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorszewski
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reinecke
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Breithardt
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kerber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D011817:Rabbits; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol