A murine model of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
BACKGROUND
The mechanisms of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) formation are poorly understood, mainly due to the lack of a useful and reproducible model. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that abluminal calcium chloride (CaCl(2)) application could create TAAs in the mouse.


METHODS
Adult 129/SvE mice (n = 8) were anesthetized and their thoracic aortas exposed via left thoracotomy. CaCl(2) (0.5M) was applied to the distal descending thoracic aorta for 15 min followed by chest closure. At 4 weeks, the perfusion-fixed aorta was harvested from the root to the renal arteries. Diameter measurements were made using confocal microscopy, and wall thickness was measured from hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections.


RESULTS
The control (n = 15) distal descending thoracic aortic diameter was 0.60 +/- 0.04 mm and increased by 25% (0.76 +/- 0.06 mm, P < 0.05) following CaCl(2) treatment. Control aortic wall thickness was 48 +/- 9 mum and decreased by 47% in corresponding CaCl(2)-exposed segments (25 +/- 8 mum, P < 0.05). The diameter and wall thickness of the ascending aorta (used as an internal control) were not significantly different between groups. Picrosirius red staining of the TAA showed adventitial collagen breakdown and disruption of lamellar organization.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that abluminal application of CaCl(2) to the thoracic aorta reliably produces dilation, wall-thinning, and disruption of mural architecture, the hallmark signs of aneurysm formation. To our knowledge, these findings describe for the first time the generation of a reproducible model of isolated TAA formation in a murine system.
Ikonomidis
John S
JS
Cardiothoracic Surgical Research, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. ikonomij@musc.edu
Gibson
William C
WC
Gardner
Jonathan
J
Sweterlitsch
Sarah
S
Thompson
Robert P
RP
Mukherjee
Rupak
R
Spinale
Francis G
FG
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
D003094:Collagen; D002122:Calcium Chloride