title: Hemodynamics and anatomy of elastase-induced rabbit aneurysm models: similarity to human cerebral aneurysms?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Animal models provide a mechanism for fundamental studies of the coupling between hemodynamics and pathophysiology in diseases such as saccular aneurysms. In this work, we evaluated the capability of an elastase-induced saccular aneurysm model in rabbits to reproduce the anatomic and hemodynamic features typical for human intracranial aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saccular aneurysms were created in 51 rabbits at the origin of the RCCA. Twelve weeks' postcreation, the lumen geometry of the aneurysm and surrounding vasculature was acquired by using 3DRA. Geometric features of these models were measured. Pulsatile 3D CFD studies were performed with rabbit-specific inlet profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Geometric features, including aneurysm height, width, neck diameter, aspect ratio, and NSI of all 51 rabbit aneurysm models fell within the range reported for human IAs. The distribution and range in values of pressure, WSS, and OSI were also typical for human IAs. A single recirculation region was observed in 33 (65%) of 51 cases, whereas a second transient recirculation zone was observed in 18 (35%) cases. Both of these flow types are commonly observed in human IAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most hemodynamic and geometric features in a commonly used elastase-induced rabbit saccular aneurysm model are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those seen in large numbers of human cerebral aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kallmes
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Durka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kadirvel
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D011817:Rabbits; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D010196:Pancreatic Elastase