Rofo 2006; 178 - VO_410_3
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-940982

Correlation of Vasa Vasorum Neovascularization, Inflammation and Plaque Progression in Aortas of ApoE-/-/LDL-/- Double Knockout Mice by Micro-CT

AC Langheinrich 1, A Michniewicz 2, DG Sedding 2, G Walker 2, PE Beighley 1, WS Rau 2, RM Bohle 2, EL Ritman 1
  • 1Mayo Clinic, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester
  • 2Giessen

Ziele: Because of the very thin arterial wall, vasa vasorum (VV) are generally not present in mice aortas. However, as atherosclerosis in large animals is associated with increase in vasa vasorum density, we investigated whether vasa vasorum neovascularization occurs in the aorta of apoE-/-/LDL-/- deficient mice using 3-D Micro-CT and histology. Methode: Aortas from apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice at the age of 16, 18, 20 or 80 weeks were infused in situ with Microfil, harvested and scanned with micro-CT (5 and 20µm cubic voxel). Using the 3D micro-CT images, we characterized plaque volume, CT “density“ and VV luminal volume along the aorta using Analyze 6.0 software. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated VV and inflammatory cells. VV within the adventitia were confirmed by Masson's trichrome staining. Ergebnis: From 16 to 80 weeks, plaque volume and CT density (index of subresolution VV opacified lumen volume and/or accumulation of calcium or other radiopaque material) increased with age throughout the entire aorta (p<0.001).

The 3-D micro-CT images of arterial and venous VV trees' allowed their perfusion territories to be delineated. The spatial concurrence of VV and lesions increased significantly (p<0.001) from 16 to 80 weeks. At the age of 80 weeks, VV luminal volume was increased 20-fold compared to animals at the age of 16 weeks (p<0.001) and plaques were present throughout the entire aorta. High-resolution micro-CT showed that adventitial VV communicate with intraplaque microvessels. Schlussfolgerung: Our results show that apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice develop VV and advanced atheromas along the aorta. Lesion volume was closely associated with amount of neovascularization in advanced atheromas, suggesting that there may be a direct relationship between lesion growth and VV development.

Korrespondierender Autor: Langheinrich AC

Mayo Clinic, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, 1216 Second Street SW, 55901 Rochester

E-Mail: Alexander.Langheinrich@radiol.med.uni-giessen.de