Dramatic decrease of aortic longitudinal elastic strength in a rat model of aortic dissection

This study aimed to evaluate thoracic aortic longitudinal elastic strength in a rat model of aortic dissection (AD).

Young Sprague Dawley rats were fed 0.25% β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN). Biomechanical and biochemistry properties of the aorta were analyzed. Elasticity modulus, maximum stretching length, draw ratio, maximum load, maximum strength, and maximum extensibility were measured.

More than one-half of BAPN-treated rats (52.9%) died of aortic rupture secondary to AD during the experiment. The diameter of the aneurysms was 6.33 ± 1.17 mm and the length was 9.33 ± 4.95 mm. The maximum diameter was significantly increased in BAPN-treated rats with AD (group B2) compared with rats without AD (group B1) and control group (group A) (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), but was not different between group B1 and group A (P = 0.108). Thickness of media and initial area in aorta of BAPN-treated rats were significantly increased compared with control group (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), but no difference in initial area was observed between group B1 and group B2 (P = 0.54). Maximum stretching length, draw ratio, maximum load, maximum strength, maximum extensibility, and elasticity modulus were dramatically decreased in group B2 compared with group B1 and group A (group B2 vs. group B1: P < 0.001; group B1 vs. group A: P < 0.001).

We successfully established a rat model of AD with a high incidence of rupture and mortality. Examinations of strain and stress parameters as well as elasticity modulus of the dissected and the nondissected aorta help understand pathogenesis of AD.