Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhanced Murine AAA Model Using Elastase to Mimic Human Aneurysms
Published on: July 26, 2024
Establishment of a new murine elastase-induced aneurysm model combined with transplantation
Zuzanna Rowinska1, Simone Gorressen2, Marc W Merx3
1Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Molecular Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University Department of Medicine, Aachen, Germany.
Introduction:
The aim of our study was to develop a reproducible murine model of elastase-induced aneurysm formation combined with aortic transplantation.
Methods:
Adult male mice (n = 6-9 per group) underwent infrarenal, orthotopic transplantation of the aorta treated with elastase or left untreated. Subsequently, both groups of mice were monitored by ultrasound until 7 weeks after grafting.
Results:
Mice receiving an elastase-pretreated aorta developed aneurysms and exhibited a significantly increased diastolic vessel diameter compared to control grafted mice at 7 week after surgery (1.11 ± 0.10 mm vs. 0.75 ± 0.03 mm; p ≤ 0,001). Histopathological examination revealed disruption of medial elastin, an increase in collagen content and smooth muscle cells, and neointima formation in aneurysm grafts.
Conclusions:
We developed a reproducible murine model of elastase-induced aneurysm combined with aortic transplantation. This model may be suitable to investigate aneurysm-specific inflammatory processes and for use in gene-targeted animals.
