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A murine model of thoracic aortic aneurysms
John S Ikonomidis1, William C Gibson, Jonathan Gardner
1Cardiothoracic Surgical Research, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. ikonomij@musc.edu
The Journal of Surgical Research
|October 24, 2003
Summary
A new method using calcium chloride (CaCl2) reliably creates thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) in mice. This breakthrough offers a reproducible model for studying TAA development and potential treatments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Animal Models
- Aortic Diseases
Background:
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) pathogenesis remains unclear due to a lack of effective models.
- Developing a reproducible murine model is crucial for TAA research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that abluminal calcium chloride (CaCl2) application can induce TAA formation in mice.
- To establish a reliable experimental system for studying TAA.
Main Methods:
- Adult mice underwent thoracotomy for aortic exposure.
- 0.5M CaCl2 was applied to the distal descending thoracic aorta for 15 minutes.
- Aortic diameter and wall thickness were measured at 4 weeks post-application.
Main Results:
- CaCl2 application significantly increased aortic diameter by 25% and decreased wall thickness by 47%.
- Histological analysis revealed adventitial collagen breakdown and disrupted lamellar organization in TAAs.
- Internal controls (ascending aorta) showed no significant changes, confirming localized effects.
Conclusions:
- Abluminal CaCl2 application reliably induces TAA hallmarks: dilation, wall thinning, and architectural disruption.
- This study presents the first reproducible murine model for isolated thoracic aortic aneurysm formation.