A preclinical ultrasound method for the assessment of vascular disease progression in murine models. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Janus, Justyna; Kanber, Baris; Mahbuba, Wadhah; Beynon, Charlotte; Ramnarine, Kumar V; Lambert, David G; Samani, Nilesh J; Stringer, Emma J; Kelly, Michael E
• Is Part Of: Ultrasound. Volume 27:Number 2(2019:May)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Vessel wall-motion -- animal models -- diagnostic imaging -- in vivo -- high-frequency ultrasound; Ultrasonic imaging -- Periodicals; Ultrasonography -- Periodicals; 616.0754305
• DOI: 10.1177/1742271X18793919
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-271X

Abstract

Introduction: The efficacy of preclinical ultrasound at providing a quantitative assessment of mouse models of vascular disease is relatively unknown. In this study, preclinical ultrasound was used in combination with a semi-automatic image processing method to track arterial distension alterations in mouse models of abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis. Methods: Longitudinal B-mode ultrasound images of the abdominal aorta were acquired using a preclinical ultrasound scanner. Arterial distension was assessed using a semi-automatic image processing algorithm to track vessel wall motion over the cardiac cycle. A standard, manual analysis method was applied for comparison. Results: Mean arterial distension was significantly lower in abdominal aortic aneurysm mice between day 0 and day 7 post-onset of disease (p < 0.01) and between day 0 and day 14 (p < 0.001), while no difference was observed in sham control mice. Manual analysis detected a significant decrease (p < 0.05) between day 0 and day 14 only. Atherosclerotic mice showed alterations in arterial distension relating to genetic modification and diet. Arterial distension was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Ldlr −/− (++/−−) mice fed high-fat western diet when compared with both wild type (++/++) mice and Ldlr −/− (++/−−) mice fed chow diet. The manual method did not detect a significant difference between these groups. Conclusions: Arterial distension can be used as an early marker for the detection of arterial disease in murine models. The semi-automatic analysis method provided increased sensitivity to differences between experimental groups when compared to the manual analysis method.