Animal Models of Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: A Comparative Guide for Mechanism, Therapeutic Testing, and...

Area of Science:

• Vascular Biology and Medicine
• Translational Research
• Animal Modeling

Background:

• Aortic aneurysms and dissections are life-threatening vascular diseases with limited treatment options beyond surgery.
• Current pharmacological therapies have not effectively halted disease progression or prevented rupture.
• Existing animal models for these conditions present challenges in interpretation and translation due to protocol diversity and variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated review on selecting appropriate animal models for specific aortic aneurysm and dissection research questions.
• To critically compare commonly used abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and thoracic aortopathy/dissection models.
• To emphasize rigor, reporting standards, and translational considerations for improved reproducibility.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of established animal models for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and thoracic aortopathies.
• Evaluation of models including angiotensin II, elastase, calcium chloride, β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), genetic mutations, and TGF-β blockade.
• Integration of platelet-intraluminal thrombus biology, including glycoprotein VI (GPVI) as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Main Results:

• Detailed comparison of AAA models (angiotensin II ± hyperlipidemia, elastase, CaCl2, BAPN hybrids, mineralocorticoid agonist) and thoracic models (BAPN, genetic, AngII + TGF-β blockade).
• Highlighting practical considerations: segment specificity, rupture incidence, lipid dependence, comorbidities, and outcome measurement.
• Identification of platelet biology and GPVI as a translational thread across different models.

Conclusions:

• Matching animal models to specific research questions is essential for advancing the study of aortic diseases.
• Implementing a decision grid and rigor checklist can harmonize model use and enhance reproducibility.
• Improved model selection and standardization will accelerate the translation of research findings into effective therapies for aortic aneurysms and dissections.