Quantitative CT imaging of the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of vasa vasorum in aortas of apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of vasa vasorum (VV) relative to advanced atherosclerotic lesions (calcified, fibrotic or hemorrhaged) along the aortic wall of apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice at the age of 25 and 80 weeks using high-resolution nano-CT.


METHODS
Aortas from male apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice at the age of 25 weeks (n=4) and 80 weeks (n=7) were infused in situ with contrast agent and harvested for scanning with nano-CT. The spatial distribution of vasa vasorum [number and area/cross-section (mm2)] was compared to aortic luminal cross-sectional area and plaque cross-sectional area in the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta. Results were complemented with co-localized histology.


RESULTS
The number and total luminal cross-sectional area of VV showed a significant decrease in the ascending aorta and aortic arch from 25 to 80 weeks but not in the descending aorta. The number and cross-sectional area of VV showed significant local differences depending on whether it was near a fibrotic, and hemorrhaged or calcified plaque in animals at the age of 80 weeks. Area of VV progressively increased along the aorta from least in the ascending aorta<aortic arch<descending aorta in animals at the age of 80 weeks and is inverse in animals aged 25 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Atherosclerotic lesion type is correlated to the number and cross-sectional area of VV in different aortic segments in apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice. The chronological development of VV along the aorta proceeds distally from the ascending aorta and aortic arch.
Kampschulte
M
M
Department of Radiology, University of Giessen, Germany.
Brinkmann
A
A
Stieger
P
P
Sedding
D G
DG
Dierkes
C
C
Bohle
R M
RM
Krombach
G
G
Ritman
Erik L
EL
Langheinrich
A C
AC
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000473:pathology*
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL