Fusiform aneurysm model in rabbit carotid artery.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a reproducible and accessible model of elastase-induced fusiform aneurysm in carotid rabbit arteries.


METHODS
Elastase, at a concentration of 1-30 U, was incubated into the lumen of carotid rabbit arteries. Four weeks later, angiography, histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry and zymography were performed.


RESULTS
The optimal concentration of elastase in this model was 3 U according to the balance between mortality and thrombosis rates. Indeed, at 3 U, external carotid diameter increased from 1.9 +/- 0.1 to 3.1 +/- 0.4 mm (p < 0.0001) associated with degradation of elastic fibers, matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion, apoptosis and macrophage infiltration.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study underlines that abdominal aortic aneurysm can be reliably duplicated in an elastase-induced aneurysm in carotid artery, a much more accessible vessel.
Reinald
Nicoleta
N
Université Paris-Descartes, INSERM and Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Unité INSERM U849, Paris, France.
Fournier
Benjamin
B
Naveau
Adrien
A
Couty
Ludovic
L
Lemitre
Mathilde
M
Seguier
Sylvie
S
Coulomb
Bernard
B
Gogly
Bruno
B
Lafont
Antoine
A
Durand
Eric
E
D000783:Aneurysm / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism
D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9