Porcine carotid arterial material property alterations with induced atheroma: an in vivo study.
OBJECTIVE
A novel methodology has been developed to evaluate regional alterations in arterial wall material properties with induced atheroma in an animal model.


METHODS
Atheromatous lesions (fatty, fibro-fatty, and fibrous) were induced in the carotid arteries of a Yucatan miniswine model by endothelial cell denudation and high cholesterol diet. The images at base line and 8 weeks after denudation were obtained using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging along with hemodynamic data. Finite element analysis (FEA) along with optimization was employed to assess regional alterations in elastic modulus in the presence of atheroma confirmed by histology.


RESULTS
In animals with 8 weeks of induced atherosclerosis, the elastic modulus increased-(elastic modulus-all values x 10(4) Pa, mean+/-S.D.) normal elements (9.34+/-0.36) compared to abnormal elements (9.52+/-0.36) (p<0.05 versus normal elements). Wall thickness increased with atheroma formation. These data demonstrate stiffening vascular wall elastic modulus with lesion progression. This is different from the behavior of femoral arteries, where the elastic modulus decreases with early stages of atheroma development followed by an increase as lesions progress.


CONCLUSIONS
This methodology permits determination of areas with early atheroma development, follow atheroma progression, and potentially evaluate interventions aimed at decreasing atheroma load and normalizing vascular material properties.
Nagaraj
Ashwin
A
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Kim
Hyunggun
H
Hamilton
Andrew J
AJ
Mun
Joung-Hwan
JH
Smulevitz
Beverly
B
Kane
Bonnie J
BJ
Yan
Lijing L
LL
Roth
Sanford I
SI
McPherson
David D
DD
Chandran
Krishnan B
KB
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004548:Elasticity; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D014463:Ultrasonography