Hemodynamics in the mouse aortic arch as assessed by MRI, ultrasound, and numerical modeling.
Mice are widely used to study arterial disease in humans, and the pathogenesis of arterial diseases is known to be strongly influenced by hemodynamic factors. It is, therefore, of interest to characterize the hemodynamic environment in the mouse arterial tree. Previous measurements have suggested that many relevant hemodynamic variables are similar between the mouse and the human. Here we use a combination of Doppler ultrasound and MRI measurements, coupled with numerical modeling techniques, to characterize the hemodynamic environment in the mouse aortic arch at high spatial resolution. We find that the hemodynamically induced stresses on arterial endothelial cells are much larger in magnitude and more spatially uniform in the mouse than in the human, an effect that can be explained by fluid mechanical scaling principles. This surprising finding seems to be at variance with currently accepted models of the role of hemodynamics in atherogenesis and the known distribution of atheromatous lesions in mice.
Feintuch
Akiva
A
Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Ruengsakulrach
Permyos
P
Lin
Amy
A
Zhang
Ji
J
Zhou
Yu-Qing
YQ
Bishop
Jonathon
J
Davidson
Lorinda
L
Courtman
David
D
Foster
F Stuart
FS
Steinman
David A
DA
Henkelman
R Mark
RM
Ethier
C Ross
CR
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D033081:Shear Strength; D013045:Species Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography