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Ectopic origin of coronary arteries from the aorta in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)
A C Durán1, B Fernández, M C Fernández
1Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain. acduran@uma.es
Insights
Congenital coronary artery anomalies, or high take-off, were found in Syrian hamsters. These anomalies involved ectopic origins and intramural courses, potentially leading to age-related vessel changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular anatomy
- Comparative pathology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Coronary artery high take-off is a congenital anomaly originating beyond the sinotubular junction.
- This condition is documented in humans and C57BL/6 mice.
- The presence and characteristics of this anomaly in Syrian hamsters were previously unreported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the occurrence of congenital coronary artery anomalies in the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).
- To characterize the anatomical features of these anomalies.
- To investigate potential age-related pathological changes in affected vessels.
Main Methods:
- Examination of 14 Syrian hamster hearts aged 53-350 days.
- Utilized corrosion-cast technique, scanning electron microscopy, and histological/immunohistochemical methods.
- Microscopic analysis of coronary artery origins, trajectories, and aortic wall interactions.
Main Results:
- Ectopic coronary artery origins were identified in 11 hamsters (right coronary artery in 11, solitary ostium in 3).
- Ectopic arteries exhibited acute angle take-off, valve-like ridges, and intramural trajectories within the aortic wall.
- No clinical signs of disease were observed in affected hamsters, but age-related intimal thickenings were noted in older animals.
Conclusions:
- Syrian hamsters exhibit congenital coronary artery anomalies similar to those seen in humans and mice.
- The intramural course and acute take-off angle may predispose vessels to age-related intimal changes.
- This finding provides a potential model for studying the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.
Abstract:
An ectopic origin of the coronary artery from the aorta beyond the sinotubular junction, a condition commonly referred to as 'coronary artery high take-off', has been described in man and C57BL/6 mice. The present paper reports this congenital coronary artery anomaly in the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Hearts from 14 individuals, aged 53-350 days, were examined by means of a corrosion-cast technique, scanning electron microscopy or histological and immunohistochemical techniques. In 11 hamsters, the right coronary artery was the ectopic vessel. In the other three animals there was a solitary coronary ostium in the aorta. In all cases, the ectopic coronary artery originated at an acute angle and a valve-like ridge was in front of the coronary artery ostium. The ectopic arteries examined microscopically showed an intramural trajectory within the aortic wall. In the hearts with a solitary ostium in the aorta, the left main coronary artery coursed between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. In man, all of these anomalous conditions place the individual at risk of myocardial ischaemia and sudden death. However, none of the affected hamsters had clinical signs of disease. Intimal thickenings of increasing size with age were present in the intramural coronary artery segment of eight hamsters aged 106 days or older, examined histologically. The present findings fit with the notion that coronary arteries with acute angle take-off and an intramural course are subjected to unusual wear and tear, leading to tissue changes in the vessel wall.
