A novel arterial pouch model of saccular aneurysm by concomitant elastase and collagenase digestion.
BACKGROUND
An ideal aneurysm model of cerebral aneurysm is of great importance for studying the pathogenesis of the lesion and testing new techniques for diagnosis and treatment. Several models have been created in rabbits and are now widely used in experimental studies; however, every model has certain intrinsic limitations. Here we report the development of a novel saccular aneurysm model in rabbits using an arterial pouch that is subject to in vitro pre-digestion with combined elastase and collagenase.


METHODS
A segment of right common carotid artery (CCA) was dissected out and treated with elastase (60 U/ml, 20 min) followed by type I collagenase (1 mg/ml, 15 min) in vitro. The graft was anastomosed to an arterial arch built with the left CCA and the remaining right CCA, while the other end of the graft was ligated. The dimension and tissue structure of the pouch were analysed immediately, 2 or 8 weeks after operation.


RESULTS
Ten terminal aneurysms were produced. The gross morphology of the aneurysm resembles the human cerebral terminal aneurysms. We have observed the following pathological changes: (1) growth of the aneurysm (mean diameter increased from (2.0+/-0.1) to (3.2+/-0.3) mm at 2 weeks, P<0.001, n=7-10); (2) thinning of the aneurysmal wall (the mean wall thickness decreased to 44% at 2 weeks), which was accompanied by significant losses of elastic fibres, collagen and the cellular component; and (3) spontaneous rupture (3 out of 9, one aneurysm ruptured 24 h after operation with the other two at 2 and 4 weeks respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This rabbit arterial pouch model mimics human cerebral aneurysms in relation to morphology and histology. In particular, this model exhibited an increased tendency of spontaneous rupture.
Yang
Xin-jian
XJ
Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. yang-xj@163.net
Li
Li
L
Wu
Zhong-xue
ZX
D000818:Animals; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017364:Collagenases; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D011817:Rabbits
D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D017364:Collagenases