Background

Intracranial fusiform aneurysms are less frequent in comparison with saccular aneurysms, defined as non-saccular dilatations that include the entire arterial wall for a short distance rather than pouch from the side of the artery [1]. In the past, plenty of hypotheses about the pathogenesis of intracranial fusiform aneurysms have been proposed, such as atherosclerosis, abnormal collagen and elastin metabolism, dissections, infections and the invasion of the arterial wall by neoplasm [2, 3]. Unfortunately, none of them could explain the pathogenesis absolutely. Besides, the technology and tools available for therapeutic treatment need to further improvement. The research on intracranial fusiform aneurysms is inhibited due to the lack of clinical specimen availability in comparison to saccular aneurysms that are often clipped [4]. All these need to develop the model of fusiform aneurysm. To our knowledge, few models have been proposed [5,6,7,8]. Moreover, there is a series of unanswered questions in these models i.e. complicated surgical procedures, the small size of aneurysm and the unknown biological effect yielded by the suture lines [8,9,10,11].

Elastase has been frequently applied in animals’ models of aneurysm induction. The feasibility, safety, and efficacy of these models have been accepted [12,13,14,15,16,17]. The elastase model has mostly been utilized in the model for induction of saccular aneurysms and only a few groups have attempted development of fusiform aneurysm model. Besides, in the few models proposed, complex surgical procedures are required or a high thrombosis rate is observed post aneurysm induction [6, 18]. Hence, the development of a novel intracranial fusiform aneurysms’ model is necessary.

Methods

All animal experiments were performed in accordance with a protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Wannan Medical College.

Description of the animal model

New Zealand White rabbits of 2.5–3.0 kg (n = 60) were randomly divided into two large groups (n = 30 per group). Every large group was divided into five sub groups (n = 6 per group). The specimens from the first large group divided into subgroups A, B, C, D and E were heparinized. The specimens from the second large group were subdivided into groups a, b, c, d and e without heparin administration. Specimens from groups A, B, C, D and E as well as groups a, b, c, d and e were respectively incubated with porcine pancreatic elastase solution at the concentration of 0, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 U/μL.

All rabbits were anesthetized through intravenous injection of 30 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital. The surgical exposures and creations of the fusiform aneurysms were performed strictly under sterile conditions.

  • Step 1: A segment of the right common carotid artery (RCCA), approximately 2.5 cm in length, was carefully exposed and isolated as previously described [19]. A piece of sterile neurological sponges (7 × 8 mm) and a slice of latex cuff (1.2 × 2 cm) were used to isolate the exposed carotid artery (Fig. 1a, d).

  • Step 2: The proximal and distal portions of the latex cuff were temporarily ligatured around the carotid artery with 4.0 silk sutures. After that, different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5 U/μL) of porcine pancreatic elastase (≥30 units/mg, pH 8.1–8.9, PI 9.5, Shanghai Kayon Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China) solution were perfused into the latex cuff through 24G venous catheter until the latex cuff was filled entirely to coat the vessel and maintained for 20 min (Fig. 1b, e).

  • Step 3: The elastase solution in the latex cuff was absorbed with sterile cotton gauze 20 min later. The temporary ligatures, neurological sponges and the latex cuff were removed. Then, the arterial segment and incision was irrigated with physiological saline to clear any residual elastase. Finally, the fusiform vessel segment was examined and the surgical site and incision was closed (Fig. 1c, f).

  • Specimens from the control groups also underwent the same above mentioned steps. The unique difference is that the carotid artery segments were incubted with physiological saline rather than elastase solution.

Fig. 1
figure 1

a-f Schematic presentation of the main steps of the procedure. a, d Step 1 b, e: Step 2 c, f Step 3. g IV DSA of a rabbit carotid artery at 21 days after 5 U of porcine pancreatic elastase incubation in the right carotid artery exhibited luminal enlargement (arrow). h gross specimen of a harvested rabbit’s fusiform aneurysm, just as the arrow indicated (original magnification, ×1)

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All animals in the first large group were administered with heparin (2000 U/Kg) intravenously after the RCCA were exposed and prior to the installation of the elastase. The same dose was applied once per day for the next 3 days. All animals in the second large group were not administered with heparin. All animal specimens in the study were given antibiotic injections to prevent infections post surgical exposure.

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography

All rabbits except for the samples lost to attrition underwent an intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IVDSA) through auricular veins 3 weeks post-surgery using 3-5 ml angiographic contrast injections through a 24 gauge venous catheter under anesthesia. The size of aneurysm in our experiment was defined through the inner diameter of the dilated segment (that is the greatest dimension of the transverse minor axis of the fusiform segment). The images and measurements were evaluated by an independent observer who was blinded to other groups.

Histological analysis

Immediately after IVDSA, all specims were sacrificed through an overdose of sodium pentobarbital (120/mg/kg). The specimens from these animals were then acquired after in vivo fixation with 10% phosphate-buffered formaldehyde solution perfused at 100 mmHg maintained for 20 min. From the proximal to the distal end, each specimen was cut into continuous slices of 5 μm. Next, these slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for general appearance and elastic van-Gieson (EVG) dye for elastin. Images of the sections were analyzed by using Image-pro plus 6.0software. The wall thickness was measured as the average thickness of 10 points along the cross-section area in the H&E stained sections.

Immunohistochemistry analysis

Tissue sections in group E were de-paraffinized in xylene, rehydrated through graded alcohol washes, and incubated with 1% H2O2 in methanol maintained for 10 min to block endogenous peroxidase activity. Non-specific binding was blocked with bovine serum (A8020, Solarbio, Beijing, China) for 20 min at room temperature, and then CD31 (ready-to-use, ab28364, Abcam) antibodies were incubated overnight in a humid chamber at 4 °C overnight. After a wash in phosphor buffered saline (PBS), sections were incubated with biotinylated anti-mouse second antibody (Boster, Wuhan, China) for 20 min followed by the SP method according to the manufacture’s protocol. Diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride was used to visualize the sections and counterstaining with hematoxylin was performed, after that the sample was coverslipped.

Immunofluorescent analysis of smooth muscle cells

After blocking endogenous peroxidases, sections in group E were incubated at 4 °C overnight with mouse monoclonal anti-alpha smooth muscle actin (1:150 diluted in PBS,GB11001), followed by incubation with Cy3-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (Google Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China) to identify smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Statistical analysis

All data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Significant differences between different groups were determined by 2-way ANOVA-test (GraphPad Prism 5.01). A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Assessment of heparinization

In the second large group, seven rabbits were lost to attrition. From the seven expired rabbits, five belonged to group e and two belonged to group d. Post mortem autopsy found that arterial thromboembolism occurred in bilateral common carotid arteries in these seven rabbits. Incidence of right common carotid artery occlusion by thrombosis was reported in six survival rabbits which. In summary, 13 out of 30 (43.3%) rabbits in the non-heparinized groups had parent artery thromboembolism as a result of elastase incubation. The incidence of carotid patency of group a, b, c, d and e were respectively 100, 83.3, 66.7, 33.3 and 0% (Fig. 2). However, all rabbits samples in the first large group (heparinized) survived without any reports of thrombosis.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Incidence of carotid artery patency at different elastase concentrations. * P < 0.05 vs. non-heparinized group

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Influence of elastase solution on arterial enlargement

The inner diameters of five groups in the first large group were measured by DSA. As the concentration of elastase increased, the fusiform enlargement of the artery is evident (Fig. 3a): For group A specimens, the inner diameter did not enlarge (2.50 ± 0.32 mm). The inner diameter was 2.56 ± 0.44 mm for group B specimens which did not enlarge significantly enlarge compared to group A (P > 0.05). For group C specimens, the inner diameter was 2.77 ± 0.49 mm which was significantly enlarged compared to groups A and B (P < 0.05). The inner diameter was 2.99 ± 0.62 mm for group D specimens which was significantly enlarged in comparison to groups A, B and C (P < 0.05). Finally in group E specimens, the inner diameter was 3.11 ± 0.55 mm, which was significantly enlarged compared to all other groups (P < 0.05). These data demonstrated that increase in elastase concentration was linked to incremental enlargement of fusiform artery. So 5 U/μL was optimal concentration which would be applied in the next study on morphology and histology of fusiform aneurysms. The 5 U/μL was the highest concentration of elastase in our experiment since it is challenging to create an elastase solution with higher concentration of elastase.

Fig. 3
figure 3

a Size of aneurysm (enlarged arterial diameter) in elastase-treated carotid arteries at 4 concentrations (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 U) compared with the control (group A). b Graph representation of the wall thickness in elastase-treated carotid arteries at 4 concentrations of the elastase (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 U) and compared to the control (group A). Results are expressed as means ± SD. * P < 0.05 vs. control, ±P < 0.05 vs. 0.5 U; ⊙p < 0.05 vs. 1 U

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Change of wall thickness on enlarged arterial segment

Histological examination of groups B -E revealed that the carotid wall thickness on enlarged arterial segment was thinner than group A it is the control group (Fig. 3b): On group A the wall thickness was 176.0 ± 39.8 μm while the wall thickness on groups B-E were respectively 163.1 ± 37.6 μm,103.7 ± 21.8 μm, 64.6 ± 18.5 μm and 39.7 ± 14.6 μm. While Group B was not significantly thinner than group A (P > 0.05), group C was significantly thinner than group A and group B (P < 0.05). Group D decreased significantly compared to groups A, B and C (P < 0.05) and group E decreased meaningfully compared to all the other groups (P < 0.05).

Specimen and histology

The specimen was fusiform enlarged and located on the mid-portion of the RCCA when the concentration of elastase was 5 U/μL (Fig. 1g, h). H&E staining demonstrated: the wall of vessel was very thin and the inner lumen enlargement was obvious (Fig. 4b) and the structure of media layer, intima layer and intima-media layer were disorganized and the cellular elements were markedly lost (Fig. 4d). Whereas, on the control groups, the vessel wall was normal (Fig. 4a) with the elastin intact and the structure of medial, intimal and intima-media layers was organized (Fig. 4c). Elastic van Gieson (EVG) staining demonstrated that the elastic network of the internal and external elastic lamina and media layer was severely destroyed in comparison with the intact elastin layers in the normal vessel (Fig. 4e).

Fig. 4
figure 4

a-d Histological Analysis of Aneurysm (Transverse sections) H&E staining shows a thin aneurysm wall and enlarged inner diameter of aneurysm (b × 40, d × 200) compared to the normal vessel (a × 40, c × 200). e-h Elastic Van Gieson staining of Vertical sections (e × 40), reveals severe destruction of elastic lamina in the aneurysms Elastic fibers (arrow): dark blue to black; nuclei: black; collagen: red; other structures: yellow. Immunohistochemical staining (f × 100) shows a lack of intimal endothelial (CD31 (yellow) positive) cells (arrow) in the intimal endothelial (CD31 (yellow) positive) cells (arrow). Immunofluorescence staining demonstrates that the thickening of the smooth muscle (α-SMA (red) positive) cell layer was decreased and the structure of smooth muscle was disordered (g × 40), compared to the normal layer of smooth muscle (h × 40)

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Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analysis

The sections immunostained for CD31 showed destruction of the endothelium on the model which the concentration of elastase was 5 U/μL (Fig. 4f). Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that the thickness of the smooth muscle (α-SMA) cell layer was significantly decreased and the structure of the smooth muscle was disordered (Fig. 4h), in comparison to the normal layer of smooth muscle (Fig. 4g).

Discussion

In this report, we characterized the morphology and histology of fusiform aneurysms induced in New Zealand white rabbits. The morphological enlargement of the inner lumen of the vessel as well as attenuation of the wall can be distinctly demonstrated. The parent arteries in heparinized groups remained unobstructed without spontaneous thrombosis up to the 21 days follow up. Histologically, the elastic lamina and SMCs were markedly attenuated, the intimal endothelial lamina became apparently thin or even absent. Using these findings, this unique creation of fusiform aneurysms is similar to human aneurysm.

In our opinion, the following factors play key roles in improving the outcome of this experimental aneurysm creation: 1) Careful exposure and preparation of a long segment of the RCCA, without damaging the superior laryngeal nerves and small vessels. 2) The optimal method of elastase incubation is adventitia incubation rather than intraluminal incubation. The surgical procedure was simple and easy with a low rate of thrombosis. In our experiment, there was no thrombosis in heparinized groups while the thrombosis rate was relatively high (25%) through intraluminal incubated method according to the report of Reinald et al. [18]. 3) Heparin administration is also indispensable. There was no thrombosis in heparinized groups. While in non-heparinized groups, there was a high rate of thrombosis of parent artery which contributed to the death of the animals. 4) The optimal concentration of elastase is 5 U/μL in our experiment.

There are some advantages in our model: 1) our model has a good stability and durability since these aneurysms are stable for 21 days. 2) The latex cuff application has two distinct advantages: it protects the vessels once they were temporarily ligated and it limits the exposure of elastase to surrounding tissues. 3) The size of these aneurysms is enough in response to therapeutic intervention. To our knowledge, there are some previously described models about fusiform aneurysm [15, 20, 21]. However, these aneurysms are microscopic in scale and not large enough to test new endovascular devices. 4) There is no thrombosis in our models. 5) Our surgical procedures are very simple and facile.

Of course, our model has some limitations as well. Evidently the induced aneurysms are located on extracranial vessel and not on intracranial vessel.

Conclusions

Our model is significant because the acquired fusiform aneurysms are not only in line with the humans’ on morphology but also on histology. We have replicated the intracranial fusiform aneurysm through the topical peri-arterial application of porcine elastase solution with 20 min induction. This method is easy, efficient and reproducible with aneurysm stability over 21 days. It is also helpful for the research about endovascular techniques and devices.