The study of the mechanism related to abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in elastase-induced aneurysm mice model / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To establish a mouse model of the abdominal aortic aneurysm by elastase perfusion and to provide a reference for the study of the mechanism related to abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.Methods:AAAs were induced by porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) infusion in male C57BL/6 mice. The control group was perfused with normal saline (Saline). The changes in abdominal aortic diameter were compared at 14 days after perfusion. The diameter of the abdominal aorta stained with HE was measured. The destruction of the elastic plate in the abdominal aortic wall was observed by elastic plate staining. TUNEL assay was used to evaluate the apoptosis in aneurysm tissues.Results:Porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) perfusion successfully established the mouse model of abdominal aortic aneurysm, in which an aneurysm formation rate was 100% at 14 days after the operation. After modelling, the abdominal aorta diameter in the mouse was significantly increased, higher than that in the control group perfused with normal saline ( P<0.05). In the PPE group, the elastic plate of the aortic wall was straightened and thinned, and interrupted. The proportion of TUNEL-positive cells in the PPE group was significantly higher than that in the control group perfused with normal saline ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Elastase perfusion can stably establish the abdominal aortic aneurysm model, and we observe the destruction of the elastic plate in the medial layer of the abdominal aortic wall and the up-regulation of the apoptosis process in the model. It provides a reference to study the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm further.