title: mRNA expression in rabbit experimental aneurysms: a study using gene chip microarrays.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The molecular characteristics of intracranial aneurysms are still poorly documented. A rabbit elastase aneurysm model has been helpful in the evaluation of devices and strategies involved in endovascular treatment of aneurysms. The goal of this project was to document the molecular changes, assessed by gene chip microarrays, associated with the creation of aneurysms in this model compared with the contralateral carotid artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A microarray of rabbit genes of interest was constructed using rabbit nucleotide sequences from GenBank. Elastase-induced saccular aneurysms were created at the origin of the right common carotid artery in 4 rabbits. Twelve weeks after aneurysm creation, RNA was isolated from the aneurysm as well as the contralateral common carotid artery and used for microarray experiments. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on 1 animal as a confirmatory test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six (46%) of 209 genes in the microarray were differentially expressed in the rabbit aneurysm compared with the contralateral common carotid artery. In general, differential gene expression followed specific molecular pathways. Similarities were found between rabbit aneurysms and human intracranial aneurysms, including increased metalloproteinase activity and decreased production of the extracellular matrix. RT-PCR results confirmed the differential expression found by the gene chip microarray.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The molecular characteristics of the rabbit elastase-induced saccular aneurysm are described. The rabbit aneurysm model shares some molecular features with human intracranial aneurysms. Future studies can use the rabbit model and the new rabbit gene chip microarray to study the molecular aspects of saccular aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Mangrum
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farassati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kadirvel
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kolbert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raghavakaimal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grill
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kallmes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase