Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025
Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior
Published on: September 16, 2015
Small AAAs: Recommendations for Rodent Model Research for the Identification of Novel Therapeutics
Jonathan Golledge1,2,3, Hong S Lu4, John A Curci5,6
1Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia (J.G.).
Clinical Problem:
Most abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are small with low rupture risk (<1%/y) when diagnosed but slowly expand to ≥55 mm and undergo surgical repair. Patients and clinicians require medications to limit AAA growth and rupture, but drugs effective in animal models have not translated to patients.
Recommendations For Increasing Translation From Mouse Models:
Use models that simulate human AAA tissue pathology, growth patterns, and rupture; focus on the clinically relevant outcomes of growth and rupture; design studies with the rigor required of human clinical trials; monitor AAA growth using reproducible ultrasound; and perform studies in both males and females.
Summary Of Strengths And Weaknesses Of Mouse Models:
The aortic adventitial elastase oral β-aminopropionitrile model has many strengths including simulating human AAA pathology and modeling prolonged aneurysm growth. The Ang II (angiotensin II) model performed less well as it better simulates acute aortic syndrome than AAA. The elastase plus TGFβ (transforming growth factor-β) blocking antibody model displays a high rupture rate, making prolonged monitoring of AAA growth not feasible. The elastase perfusion and calcium chloride models both display limited AAA growth.
