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Noninvasive Imaging of Aortic Atherosclerosis by Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in a Mouse Model
Author(s) -
Zhang Xiaoshan,
Ha Si,
Wei Wei,
Duan Shasha,
Shi Yilu,
Yang Ya
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/ultra.34.1.111
Subject(s) - ultrasound biomicroscopy , medicine , ultrasound , ascending aorta , aortic arch , aorta , carotid arteries , aortic root , common carotid artery , cardiology , radiology
Objectives The noninvasive and accurate evaluation of vessel characteristics in mouse models has become an intensive focus of vascular medicine. This study aimed to apply ultrasound biomicroscopy to evaluate aortic atherosclerotic progression in a low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDL‐R) knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis. Methods Ten male LDL‐R −/− C57BL/6 mice aged 16 and 24 weeks and 8 male wild‐type C57BL/6 mice aged 16 and 24 weeks were used as experimental and control groups, respectively. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was applied to detect the morphologic characteristics of the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, and carotid artery and to measure the aortic root intima‐media thickness and carotid artery bifurcation. Results Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a significant increase in the aortic root intima‐media thickness from 0.10 ± 0.03 mm in 16‐week‐old mice to 0.16 ± 0.04 mm in 24‐week‐old mice ( P < .01). The ultrasound biomicroscopically measured intima‐media thickness was highly correlated with the histologic measurement ( r = 0.81). Conclusions Ultrasound biomicroscopy could be used for a noninvasive, accurate, and dynamic analysis of aortic atherosclerosis in LDL‐R knockout mice.