Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026
A Murine Model of Carotid Aneurysm Formation
Published on: September 9, 2025
A small animal model for early cerebral aneurysm pathology
James A Lee1, Laurence A G Marshman2, Corey S Moran3
1Department of Neurosurgery, The Townsville Hospital, 100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia; Vascular Biology Unit, Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville, QLD, Australia; School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
This study developed a new mouse model for early cerebral aneurysm (CA) pathology, using a low-dose elastase infusion. The model effectively replicates key features like endothelial change and internal elastic lamina degeneration, crucial for understanding CA progression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Existing mouse models for cerebral aneurysm (CA) formation often produce large, rapidly rupturing aneurysms, which do not fully represent human CA pathology.
- There is a need for a more representative animal model to study the early, progressive stages of human CA development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel mouse model that accurately mimics the early histopathological features of human cerebral aneurysms.
- To investigate the correlation between endothelial changes and internal elastic lamina degeneration in early CA formation.
Main Methods:
- Male C57/BL6 mice underwent stereotactic injection of a low-dose elastase solution into the right basal cistern.
- Subcutaneous infusion of human angiotensin II was administered concurrently.
- Mice were observed for 2-3 weeks, and cerebral arterial bifurcations were examined for early histopathological features, including endothelial change (EC) and internal elastic lamina degeneration (IELD).
Main Results:
- Early CA features, including EC and IELD, were observed in 73% of examined brains.
- A strong correlation was found between the severity of EC and IELD, with both being severe in macroscopic CAs.
- The model successfully replicated a spectrum of early CA pathology at multiple arterial bifurcations.
Conclusions:
- A refined mouse model using low-dose elastase and angiotensin II effectively replicates early cerebral aneurysm pathology, including EC and IELD.
- The model demonstrates a correlation between EC and IELD severity, offering a valuable tool for studying factors influencing CA progression.
- This model provides a platform for investigating interventions that may advance or retard the development of cerebral aneurysms.
