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Updated: May 14, 2026
Deep Vein Thrombosis Induced by Stasis in Mice Monitored by High Frequency Ultrasonography
Published on: April 13, 2018
Deep vein thrombus formation induced by flow reduction in mice is determined by venous side branches
Moritz Brandt1, Tanja Schönfelder2, Melanie Schwenk3
12nd Medical Clinic, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Insights
Venous side branches significantly impact deep vein thrombosis (DVT) formation in mice, influencing thrombus size and weight. Understanding vessel anatomy is crucial for accurate DVT research models.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology
- Thrombosis research
- Medical imaging
Background:
- The complex interplay of vascular factors in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) pathogenesis is not fully understood.
- Well-defined animal models are essential for studying DVT.
- Current models require refinement to accurately reflect human disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of venous anatomy and hemodynamics in experimental DVT.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound imaging in assessing DVT formation.
- To identify key anatomical factors influencing thrombus development in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Induction of DVT in male C57BL/6 mice via inferior vena cava (IVC) ligation.
- Macroscopic and high-frequency ultrasound analysis (B-mode, pw-Doppler, PDI) of thrombus formation.
- Measurement of thrombus size, weight, and correlation with anatomical parameters.
Main Results:
- Power Doppler Imaging (PDI) robustly predicted thrombus size (r2 = 0.9734).
- The distance of IVC side branches from the ligature significantly determined thrombus weight and length (r2 = 0.5597 and r2 = 0.5441, respectively).
- Distances <1.5 mm between side branches and the ligature drastically impaired thrombus formation, irrespective of measured flow.
Conclusions:
- Venous side branches play a critical role in regulating thrombus size in experimental DVT.
- Vessel anatomy, specifically the presence and proximity of side branches, is a significant determinant of thrombus formation.
- These anatomical factors must be controlled in mouse models of DVT for reliable results.
Background:
Interaction between vascular wall abnormalities, inflammatory leukocytes, platelets, coagulation factors and hemorheology in the pathogenesis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is incompletely understood, requiring well defined animal models of human disease.
Methods And Results:
We subjected male C57BL/6 mice to ligation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) as a flow reduction model to induce DVT. Thrombus size and weight were analyzed macroscopically and sonographically by B-mode, pulse wave (pw) Doppler and power Doppler imaging (PDI) using high frequency ultrasound. Thrombus size varied substantially between individual procedures and mice, irrespective of the flow reduction achieved by the ligature. Interestingly, PDI accurately predicted thrombus size in a very robust fashion (r2 = 0.9734, p < 0.0001). Distance of the insertion of side branches from the ligature significantly determines thrombus weight (r2 = 0.5597, p < 0.0001) and length (r2 = 0.5441, p < 0.0001) in the IVC, regardless of the flow measured by pw-Doppler with distances <1.5 mm drastically impairing thrombus formation. Occlusion of side branches prior to ligation of IVC did not increase thrombus size, probably due to patent side branches inaccessible to surgery.
Conclusion:
Venous side branches influence thrombus size in experimental DVT and might therefore prevent thrombus formation. This renders vessel anatomy and hemorheology important determinants in mouse models of DVT, which should be controlled for.
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