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A novel arterial pouch model of saccular aneurysm by concomitant elastase and collagenase digestion

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Abstract

Background

An ideal aneurysm model of cerebral aneurysm is of great importance for studying the pathogenesis of the lesion and testing new techniques for diagnosis and treatment. Several models have been created in rabbits and are now widely used in experimental studies; however, every model has certain intrinsic limitations. Here we report the development of a novel saccular aneurysm model in rabbits using an arterial pouch that is subject to in vitro pre-digestion with combined elastase and collagenase.

Methods

A segment of right common carotid artery (CCA) was dissected out and treated with elastase (60 U/ml, 20 min) followed by type I collagenase (1 mg/ml, 15 min) in vitro. The graft was anastomosed to an arterial arch built with the left CCA and the remaining right CCA, while the other end of the graft was ligated. The dimension and tissue structure of the pouch were analysed immediately, 2 or 8 weeks after operation.

Findings

Ten terminal aneurysms were produced. The gross morphology of the aneurysm resembles the human cerebral terminal aneurysms. We have observed the following pathological changes: (1) growth of the aneurysm (mean diameter increased from (2.0±0.1) to (3.2±0.3) mm at 2 weeks, P<0.001, n=7∼10); (2) thinning of the aneurysmal wall (the mean wall thickness decreased to 44% at 2 weeks), which was accompanied by significant losses of clastic fibres, collagen and the cellular component; and (3) spontaneous rupture (3 out of 9, one aneurysm ruptured 24 h after operation with the other two at 2 and 4 weeks respectively).

Conclusion

This rabbit arterial pouch model mimics human cerebral aneurysms in relation to morphology and histology. In particular, this model exhibited an increased tendency of spontaneous rupture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China

    Yang Xin-jian, Li Li & Wu Zhong-xue

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  1. Yang Xin-jian
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  2. Li Li
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  3. Wu Zhong-xue
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Correspondence to Yang Xin-jian.

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Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30772234), the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (Nos. 7022008 and 7072016), and the Outstanding Talent Foundation of the Organization Department of Municipal Party Committee of Beijing (No. 2006D0300400072), China

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Yang, Xj., Li, L. & Wu, Zx. A novel arterial pouch model of saccular aneurysm by concomitant elastase and collagenase digestion. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. B 8, 697–703 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0697

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0697

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