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Minimally Invasive Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice.
Aung Moe Zaw1, Connor M Williams2, Helen K W Law3
1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|April 1, 2017
Summary
Minimally invasive transverse aortic constriction (MTAC) offers a faster, less invasive method for inducing left ventricular hypertension in mice compared to traditional open-chest surgery. This technique simplifies the procedure, improving survival rates and enabling high-throughput cardiovascular research.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Surgical Techniques
- Animal Models
Background:
- Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) is crucial for inducing left ventricular pressure overload in mice.
- Standard open-chest TAC requires tracheal intubation and artificial ventilation, increasing procedural difficulty and reducing survival.
- A less invasive approach is needed to facilitate high-throughput studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe and validate the minimally invasive transverse aortic constriction (MTAC) procedure in mice.
- To demonstrate MTAC as a viable alternative to open-chest TAC for inducing left ventricular hypertension.
- To highlight the utility of MTAC for high-throughput cardiovascular research.
Main Methods:
- MTAC involves a midline anterior neck incision to access the aortic arch, avoiding rib cutting and tracheal intubation.
- A suture with a spacer is placed around the aortic arch to create constriction.
- Echocardiography (color and pulsed-wave Doppler) is used to assess flow velocities, vessel dimensions, and cardiac function.
- Histopathological analysis examines cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.
Main Results:
- MTAC successfully induces left ventricular hypertension with significantly reduced invasiveness and procedure time compared to TAC.
- Echocardiography effectively detects changes in aortic arch and carotid artery flow, as well as left ventricular morphology.
- Histopathology confirms cardiac muscle cell hypertrophy and fibrosis, indicative of successful constriction.
Conclusions:
- MTAC is a superior method for constricting the transverse aorta in mice, offering improved survival and efficiency.
- This technique facilitates high-throughput studies by simplifying the induction of left ventricular pressure overload.
- MTAC provides a robust model for investigating cardiac responses to hypertension and heart failure.