title: A model system for mapping vascular responses to complex hemodynamics at arterial bifurcations in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebral aneurysms are preferentially located at arterial bifurcation apices with complex hemodynamics. To understand disease mechanisms associated with aneurysm initiation, we attempted to establish a causal relationship between local hemodynamics and vascular responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arterial bifurcations were surgically created from native common carotid arteries in two dogs, angiographically imaged 2 weeks and 2 months later, and then excised. We characterized local morphological changes in response to specifically manipulated hemodynamics. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed on the in vivo images and results mapped onto histological images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local flow conditions, such as high wall shear stress and high wall shear stress gradient, were found to be associated with vascular changes, including an intimal pad in the flow impingement region and a "groove" bearing the characteristics of an early aneurysm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel method of histohemodynamic micromapping reveals a direct correlation between an altered hemodynamic microenvironment and vascular responses consistent with aneurysm development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. huimeng@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yiemeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kolega
authors.forename: Eleni M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Metaxa
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Szymanski
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sauvageau
authors.forename: Elad I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004285:Dogs; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical