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Ultrasound Int Open 2015; 01(02): E67-E71
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565092
Rapid Communication
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Live Observation of Atherosclerotic Plaque Disruption in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mouse

V. Daeichin
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
J. C. Sluimer
2   Department of Pathology, Maastricht University, CARIM, Maastricht, Netherlands
,
K. van der Heiden
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
I. Skachkov
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
K. Kooiman
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
A. Janssen
2   Department of Pathology, Maastricht University, CARIM, Maastricht, Netherlands
,
B. Janssen
3   Pharmacology & Toxicology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
,
J. G. Bosch
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
N. de Jong
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
4   Lab of Acoustical Wavefield Imaging, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
,
M. J. A. P. Daemen
5   Pathology, Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
,
A. F. W. van der Steen
1   Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Biomedical Engineering, Rotterdam, Netherlands
4   Lab of Acoustical Wavefield Imaging, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 15 July 2015

accepted 04 October 2015

Publication Date:
13 November 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Aim:

The actual occurrence of spontaneous plaque rupture in mice has been a matter of debate. We report on an in vivo observation of the actual event of possible plaque disruption in a living ApoE-/- mouse.

Methods and Results:

During live contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of a 50-week-old ApoE-/- male mouse, symptoms suggesting plaque disruption in the brachiocephalic artery were observed. Histological analysis confirmed the presence of advanced atherosclerotic lesions with dissections and intraplaque hemorrhage in the affected brachiocephalic trunk, pointing towards plaque rupture as the cause of the observed event. However, we did not detect a luminal thrombus or cap rupture, which is a key criterion for plaque rupture in human atherosclerosis.

Conclusion:

This study reports the real-time occurrence of a possible plaque rupture in a living ApoE-/- mouse.

Key words

ultrasound - microbubbles - plaque rupture - ApoE - atherosclerosis

Supplementary Material

 

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