Anatomical Variations of the Common Carotid Arteries and Neck Structures of the New Zealand White Rabbit and Their Implications for the Development of Preclinical Extracranial Aneurysm Models.

BACKGROUND: Rabbit models involving neck arteries are of growing importance for the development of preclinical aneurysm models. An optimal understanding of the anatomy is primordial to allow the conception of models while minimizing mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study is to give reliable anatomical landmarks to allow a standardized approach to the neck vessels. METHODS: We performed a necropsy on nine specimens from ongoing experimental studies. We measured the distance between the origins of the right and left common carotid artery (rCCA/lCCA) and between the rCCA and the manubrium sterni (MS). The structures at risk were described. RESULTS: Female New Zealand White rabbits (NZWR) weighing 3.7 ± 0.3 kg and aged 25 ± 5 weeks were included. The rCCA origin was located 9.6 ± 1.2 mm laterally and 10.1 ± 3.3 mm caudally to the MS. In all specimens, the lCCA originated from the aortic arch, together with the brachiocephalic trunk (BCT), and 6.2 ± 3.1 mm proximally to the rCCA origin. The external and internal jugular veins, trachea and laryngeal nerve were the main structures at risk. CONCLUSIONS: The data help to localize both CCAs and their origin to guide surgical approaches with the manubrium sterni as a main landmark. Special attention has to be paid to the trachea, jugular veins and laryngeal nerves.

Usefulness and Reliability of the Bispectral Index during Balanced Anesthesia for Neurovascular Surgery in New Zealand White Rabbits.

Few data about the electroencephalogram and its calculated indices, such as the bispectral index (BIS), have been reported in rabbits. We aimed to evaluate whether a clinically stable anesthesia was mirrored by consistent and stable BIS values and to investigate the effects of modified cerebral blood supply, due to bilateral carotid clamping and re-opening, on BIS values. We also investigated the effects of fentanyl, as an antinociceptive drug, on the BIS. Sixty-eight rabbits undergoing general anesthesia for surgical creation of carotid bifurcation aneurysms were enrolled. The BIS values were recorded at nine selected time points (TPs) during each procedure and before and after fentanyl administration. The BIS values over time were compared with two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance followed by Tukey test, while the Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed to compare values at clamping and re-opening of the carotids as well as before and after fentanyl administration. The BIS values were significantly lower during anesthesia than at the end of anesthesia and at tracheal extubation; no significant differences were found among other TPs. Adequate depth of anesthesia was mirrored by consistent BIS values among rabbits, and alteration of cerebral blood supply did not modify BIS values, except once. Following fentanyl, BIS values did not change in a clinically relevant way.

Using a Cell-Tracer Injection to Investigate the Origin of Neointima-Forming Cells in a Rat Saccular Side Wall Model.

Microsurgical clipping creates a subsequent barrier of blood flow into intracranial aneurysms, whereas endovascular treatment relies on neointima and thrombus formation. The source of endothelial cells covering the endoluminal layer of the neointima remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the origin of neointima-forming cells after cell-tracer injection in the already well-established Helsinki rat microsurgical sidewall aneurysm model. Sidewall aneurysms were created by suturing decellularized or vital arterial pouches end-to-side to the aorta in male Lewis rats. Before arteriotomy with aneurysm suture, a cell-tracer injection containing CM-Dil dye was performed into the clamped aorta to label endothelial cells in the adjacent vessel and track their proliferation during follow-up (FU). Treatment followed by coiling (n = 16) or stenting (n = 15). At FU (7 days or 21 days), all rats underwent fluorescence angiography, followed by aneurysm harvesting and macroscopic and histological evaluation with immunohistological cell counts for specific regions of interest. None of the 31 aneurysms had ruptured upon follow-up. Four animals died prematurely. Macroscopically residual perfusion was observed in 75.0% coiled and 7.0% of stented rats. The amount of cell-tracer-positive cells was significantly elevated in decellularized stented compared to coiled aneurysms with respect to thrombus on day 7 (p = 0.01) and neointima on day 21 (p = 0.04). No significant differences were found in thrombus or neointima in vital aneurysms. These findings confirm worse healing patterns in coiled compared to stented aneurysms. Neointima formation seems particularly dependent on the parent artery in decellularized aneurysms, whereas it is supported by the recruitment from aneurysm wall cells in vital cell-rich walls. In terms of translation, stent treatment might be more appropriate for highly degenerated aneurysms, whereas coiling alone might be adequate for aneurysms with mostly healthy vessel walls.

Parent artery-initiated and stent-mediated neointima formation in a rat saccular side wall model.

BACKGROUND: Unlike clipping that forms an immediate barrier of blood flow into intracranial aneurysms, endovascular treatments rely on thrombus organization and neointima formation. Therefore, a continuous endothelial cell layer is crucial to prevent blood flow in the former aneurysm. This study investigates the origin of endothelial cells in the neointima of endovascular treated aneurysms, specifically whether cells from the parent artery play a role in neointima formation. METHODS: In male rats, decellularized and vital side wall aneurysms were treated by coil (n=16) or stent embolization (n=15). The cell tracer CM-Dil dye was injected into the clamped aorta before aneurysm suture to mark initial endothelial cells in the parent artery and enable tracking of their proliferation during follow-up. Aneurysms were analyzed for growth, thrombus formation, and recurrence. Histological evaluation followed with cell counts for specific regions-of-interest. RESULTS: During follow-up, none of the 31 aneurysms ruptured. Macroscopic residual perfusion was observed in 12/16 rats after coiling and in 1/15 after stenting. Amounts of CM-Dil +cells in coiled versus stented decellularized aneurysms significantly decreased in the thrombus on day 7 (p=0.01) and neointima on day 21 (p=0.04). For vital aneurysms, the number of CM-Dil +cells in the neointima on day 21 showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Healing patterns were worse in coil-treated than stent-treated aneurysms. Cell migration forming a neointima seemed mainly dependent on the adjacent vessel in decellularized aneurysms, but appeared buoyed by recruitment from aneurysm wall cells in vital aneurysms. Therefore, a cell-rich parent artery might be crucial.

Aspirin treatment prevents inflammation in experimental bifurcation aneurysms in New Zealand White rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm wall degeneration is linked to growth and rupture. To address the effect of aspirin (ASA) on aneurysm formation under various wall conditions, this issue was analyzed in a novel rabbit bifurcation model. METHODS: Bifurcation aneurysms created in 45 New Zealand White rabbits were randomized to vital (n=15), decellularized (n=13), or elastase-degraded (n=17) wall groups; each group was assigned to a study arm with or without ASA. At follow-up 28 days later, aneurysms were evaluated for patency, growth, and wall inflammation at macroscopic and histological levels. RESULTS: 36 rabbits survived to follow-up at the end of the trial. None of the aneurysms had ruptured. Patency was visualized in all aneurysms by intraoperative fluorescence angiography and confirmed in 33 (92%) of 36 aneurysms by MRI/MRA. Aneurysm size was significantly increased in the vital (without ASA) and elastase-degraded (with and without ASA) groups. Aneurysm thrombosis was considered complete in three (50%) of six decellularized aneurysms without ASA by MRI/MRA. Locoregional inflammation of the aneurysm complex was significantly reduced in histological analysis among all groups treated with ASA. CONCLUSION: ASA intake prevented inflammation of both the periadventitial tissue and aneurysm wall, irrespective of initial wall condition. Although ASA prevented significant growth in aneurysms with vital walls, this preventive effect did not have an important role in elastase-degraded pouches. In possible translation to the clinical situation, ASA might exert a potential preventive effect during early phases of aneurysm formation in patients with healthy vessels but not in those with highly degenerative aneurysm walls.

Creation of Two Saccular Elastase-Digested Aneurysms with Different Hemodynamics in One Rabbit.

Preclinical animal models with hemodynamic, morphologic, and histologic characteristics close to human intracranial aneurysms play a key role in the understanding of the pathophysiological processes and the development and testing of new therapeutic strategies. This study aims to describe a new rabbit aneurysm model that allows the creation of two elastase-digested saccular aneurysms with different hemodynamic conditions within the same animal. Five female New Zealand white rabbits with a mean weight of 4.0 (± 0.3) kg and mean age of 25 (±5) weeks underwent microsurgical stump and bifurcation aneurysm creation. One aneurysm (stump) was created by right common carotid artery (CCA) exposure at its origin at the brachiocephalic trunk. A temporary clip was applied at the CCA origin and another, 2 cm above. This segment was treated with a local injection of 100 U of elastase for 20 min. A second aneurysm (bifurcation) was created by suturing an elastase-treated arterial pouch into the end-to-side anastomosis of the right CCA to left CCA. Patency was controlled by fluorescence angiography immediately after creation. The average duration of surgery was 221 min. The creation of two aneurysms in the same animal was successful in all rabbits without complication. All aneurysms were patent immediately after surgery except for one bifurcation aneurysm, which showed an extreme tissue reaction due to elastase incubation and an immediate intraluminal thrombosis. No mortality was observed during surgery and up to one-month follow-up. Morbidity was limited to a transient vestibular syndrome (one rabbit), which recovered spontaneously within one day. Demonstrated here for the first time is the feasibility of creating a two-aneurysm rabbit model with stump and bifurcation hemodynamic characteristics and highly degenerated wall conditions. This model allows the study of the natural course and potential treatment strategies on the basis of aneurysm biology under different flow conditions.

Patterns of Neointima Formation After Coil or Stent Treatment in a Rat Saccular Sidewall Aneurysm Model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular aneurysm treatment relies on a biological process, including cell migration for thrombus organization and growth of a neointima. To better understand aneurysm healing, our study explores the origin of neointima-forming and thrombus-organizing cells in a rat saccular sidewall aneurysm model. METHODS: Saccular aneurysms were transplanted onto the abdominal aorta of male Lewis rats and endovascularly treated with coils (n=28) or stents (n=26). In 34 cases, GFP+ (green fluorescent protein)-expressing vital aneurysms were sutured on wild-type rats, and in 23 cases, decellularized wild-type aneurysms were sutured on GFP+ rats. Follow-up at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days evaluated aneurysms by fluorescence angiography, macroscopic inspection, and microscopy for healing and inflammation status. Furthermore, the origin of cells was tracked with fluorescence histology. RESULTS: In animals with successful functional healing, histological studies showed a gradually advancing thrombus organization over time characterized by progressively growing neointima from the periphery of the aneurysm toward the center. Cell counts revealed similar distributions of GFP+ cells for coil or stent treatment in the aneurysm wall (54.4% versus 48.7%) and inside the thrombus (20.5% versus 20.2%) but significantly more GFP+ cells in the neointima of coiled (27.2 %) than stented aneurysms (10.4%; P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Neointima formation and thrombus organization are concurrent processes during aneurysm healing. Thrombus-organizing cells originate predominantly in the parent artery. Neointima formation relies more on cell migration from the aneurysm wall in coiled aneurysms but receives greater contributions from cells originating in the parent artery in stent-treated aneurysms. Cell migration, which allows for a continuous endothelial lining along the parent artery's lumen, may be a prerequisite for complete aneurysm healing after endovascular therapy. In terms of translation into clinical practice, these findings may explain the variability in achieving complete aneurysm healing after coil treatment and the improved healing rate in stent-assisted coiling.