Recent Advances in the Development of Experimental Animal Models Mimicking Human Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

Aortic aneurysm is a common and life-threatening disease that can cause death from rupture. Current therapeutic options are limited to surgical or endovascular procedures because no pharmacological approaches have been proven to decrease the chance of expansion or rupture. The best approach to the management of aortic aneurysm would be the understanding and prevention of the processes involved in disease occurrence, progression, and rupture. There is a need for animal models that can reproduce the pathophysiological features of human aortic aneurysm, and several such models have been studied. This review will emphasize recent advances in animal models used in the determination of mechanisms and treatments of aortic aneurysms.

Keywords: Aneurysm; Animal model; Aorta; Research.

Fig. 1.

Photography of mouse showing subcutaneously implanted osmotic pump filled with angiotensin II and deoxycorticosterone acetate pellet.

Fig. 2.

Atherosclerotic lesion on thoracic (A) and abdominal (B) aorta in angiotensin II+deoxycorticosterone acetate mouse.

Fig. 3.

Aneurysm formation on ascending aorta in angiotensin II+deoxycorticosterone acetate mouse. (A, B) Dissected aortic arch showing aneurysmal change (black arrow) on ascending aorta. (C, D) H&E staining of ascending aorta (×5, ×20).

Fig. 4.

(A) H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining for (B) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, (C) MMP-9, and (D) Elastica von Gieson on aneurysmal portion in angiotensin II+deoxycorticosterone acetate mouse (A–D: ×20).

Fig. 5.

H&E staining of thoracic aorta in (A) control, (B) angiotensin II, (C) deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and (D) angiotensin II+DOCA mouse (A–D: ×40).

Fig. 6.

Immunohistochemical staining of thoracic aorta for matrix metalloproteinase-9 (A) and Elastica von Gieson (B) in each group (×40). DOCA, deoxycorticosterone acetate.