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Developing a rabbit model of neointimal stenosis and atherosclerotic fibrous plaque rupture - PubMed

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. 2011 Summer;6(3):117-25.

Epub 2011 Aug 31.

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Developing a rabbit model of neointimal stenosis and atherosclerotic fibrous plaque rupture

Hossein Mehrad et al. J Tehran Heart Cent. 2011 Summer.

Abstract

Background: A precise understanding of the mechanism of human neointimal stenoses and atherosclerotic fibrous plaques, which give rise to thromboses in vital arteries, requires a suitable animal model that would mimic the same characteristics well. We developed a rabbit model of neointimal stenosis and fibrotic plaque rupture in the carotid artery to visualize the lesion progress and to characterize the lesion types according to the American Heart Association classification.

Methods: Twenty-eight healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: The rabbits in group A (n = 14) consumed a standard chow diet, and those in group B (n = 14) were injured via perivascular cold injury using liquid nitrogen at the right common carotid artery before being fed a high cholesterol diet (1.5%) for eight weeks. Plasma lipid evaluation was performed before the sacrificing of the rabbits. At the end of every week, at least 1 rabbit from group B was sacrificed for an analysis of lesion histopathology and calculation of the area ratios of the intima to media.

Results: The plasma lipid level in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (p value < 0.05). The histopathological results revealed atherosclerosis characteristics such as endothelial layer destruction, fatty streaks and lipid-containing macrophages (foam cells) formation in the intima and media layers, extracellular lipid collections, smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration, neointima formation, intima thickening and deformation, fibrotic plaque formation, and finally plaque rupture. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in the intima-to-media ratio at the end of the eighth week (6.41 ± 0.27, p value < 0.05).

Conclusion: We successfully developed a rabbit model of neointimal stenosis and atherosclerotic fibrous connective tissue plaque rupture, which is not only quickly and easily reproducible and inexpensive but also without mortality. The merits of our model render the evaluation of neointimal stenoses and fibrotic plaques and their treatment strategies more feasible in humans.

Keywords: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Carotid arteries; Plaque; Rabbits; atherosclerotic.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Surgical exposure of the common carotid artery (A), the rinsing of the blood from the segment with phosphate-buffered saline (B), edema progression a few minutes after perivascular liquid nitrogen cold injury (C), closure of the surgical incision (D)

Figure 1
Figure 1

Surgical exposure of the common carotid artery (A), the rinsing of the blood from the segment with phosphate-buffered saline (B), edema progression a few minutes after perivascular liquid nitrogen cold injury (C), closure of the surgical incision (D)

Figure 2
Figure 2

The mean and standard error of weight changes for group A (without cholesterol) and group B (surgery and cholesterol feeding) during eight weeks of regimen

Figure 3
Figure 3

Serum parameters changes in group A and group B after eight weeks LDL, Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG, Triglyceride; TC, Total cholesterol

Figure 4
Figure 4

Hematoxylin-eosin staining of transversal (A, B, C, D, E) and longitudinal (F, G, H) sections of rabbit common carotid arteries in uninjured group (A) and in injured group (B, C, D, E, F, G, H) from week one to week eight

Figure 4
Figure 4

Hematoxylin-eosin staining of transversal (A, B, C, D, E) and longitudinal (F, G, H) sections of rabbit common carotid arteries in uninjured group (A) and in injured group (B, C, D, E, F, G, H) from week one to week eight

Figure 5
Figure 5

The intima-to-media ratios in injured carotid group during an eight-week period following injury and a high fat diet (1.5% cholesterol). In week zero, carotid arteries were healthy

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