Development of an atherosclerosis rabbit model to evaluate the hemodynamic impact of extracorporeal circulation  

作　　者：Anna Kathrin Assmann Jan Buschmann Sinje Reimers Aleyna Karakas Elvira Weber Hug Aubin Artur Lichtenberg Alexander Assmann 

机构地区：[1]Department of Cardiac Surgery and CURE 3D Lab,Medical Faculty,Heinrich Heine University,University Hospital Düsseldorf,Düsseldorf,Germany [2]CURE 3D Lab,Medical Faculty,Heinrich Heine University,Düsseldorf,Germany [3]Cardiovascular Research Institute Duesseldorf(CARID),Medical Faculty,Heinrich-Heine University,Düsseldorf,Germany

出　　处：《Animal Models and Experimental Medicine》2025年第3期523-533,共11页动物模型与实验医学(英文)

基　　金：German Heart Foundation/German Foundation of Heart Research。

摘　　要：Background:Aortic atherosclerosis increases the risk of embolic events under extracorporeal circulation(ECC).To evaluate the hemodynamic impact of ECC on atheromatous plaques,an atherosclerosis animal model,which is also eligible for ECC,is required.Methods:Twenty-nine New Zealand White rabbits received a pro-atherosclerotic diet(group diet,n=10),a pro-atherosclerotic diet and additional intraaortic balloon insufflation injury(group BI,n=9),or served as controls(n=10).After 3 or 6 months,aortic explants were analyzed by(immuno-)histology and RT-PCR.Results:Blood serum analyses revealed increased cholesterol-levels in groups diet and BI compared to controls(3 months:p=0.03 each,6 months:p<0.0001 each).Aortic inflammatory infiltration was significantly enhanced in groups diet(CD3 at 3 months:p<0.0001,6 months:p=0.02;CD68 at 3 months:p=0.01)and BI(CD3 at 3 months:p<0.0001,6 months:p=0.03;CD68 at 3 months:p=0.04,6 months:p=0.02).Increased intima hyperplasia occurred in both groups(p<0.0001 each).Macroscopic analyses after 3 and 6 months showed ubiquitous lumen-narrowing aortic plaques.Calcification of the intima and media was increased in groups diet(intima:p<0.0001 at 3 and 6 months;media at 3 months:p<0.0001,6 months:p=0.01)and BI(intima:p<0.0001 at 3 and 6 months;media at 3 months:p<0.0001,6 months:p=0.02).Extensive lipid accumulation was found in the intima in both treatment groups(p<0.0001 each).Conclusions:A rabbit model with high aortic calcific plaque burden—diet-induced with no implicit need of an additional intimal injury by an intraaortic balloon insufflation due to comparable outcome—exhibiting multiple pathophysiological aspects of human atherosclerosis has been designed and thoroughly characterized.It is suitable for use in future studies on the interaction between atherosclerotic plaques and the arterial blood flow under ECC.

关 键 词：animal model ATHEROSCLEROSIS CALCIFICATION extracorporeal circulation INFLAMMATION PLAQUES 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]