Non-invasive real-time imaging of atherosclerosis in mice using ultrasound biomicroscopy

Gan, Li‐Ming; Grönros, Julia; Hägg, Ulrika; Wikström, Johannes; Theodoropoulos, Catherine; Friberg, Peter; Fritsche‐Danielson, Regina

doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.03.035

Cited by 62 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…6 UBM measurements of IMT and plaque thickness in various animal studies have been compared with histological data showing close correlations between the methods. 7,8 Moreover, we have published the results of in vitro measurements of IT and MT of human mesenteric arteries by UBM, demonstrating close correlations to histological measurements. 9 In that study the discrimination capacity of UBM was tested with silicon layer phantoms (measuring 1-200 μm) showing high accuracy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Increased intima thickness of the radial artery in patients with coronary heart disease

et al. 2009

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Ultrabiomicroscopy is a novel high-frequency (55 MHz) ultrasound technique that could be used to non-invasively measure the vessel wall and separate the intima-media complex into measurements of intima and media thickness. Since no previous study has measured intima and media thickness separately in vivo in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), the aim of the current study was to measure intima and intima-media thickness of the radial and the anterior tibial arteries among patients with CHD and healthy subjects (HS). Thirty-two patients with CHD and 46 HS underwent investigations with ultrabiomicroscopy measurements of the radial and anterior tibial arteries. Patients with CHD showed a 19% increase in intima thickness of the radial artery compared with HS (0.088  0.024 mm versus 0.074  0.015 mm; p < 0.015), whereas no difference was seen in media thickness. There were no differences in intima or media thickness within the anterior tibial arteries. In conclusion, CHD is associated with thickening of the intima of the radial artery whereas media thickness was unchanged compared with HS. Assessment of intima thickness by highfrequency ultrasound may provide a tool for non-invasive early detection of atherosclerosis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Increased intima thickness of the radial artery in patients with coronary heart disease

et al. 2009

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“…Before the diet was started and after 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk of treatment, a UBM (Vevo 770, version 2.2.2, Visualsonics, Toronto, Canada) with a transducer frequency of 40 MHz (providing a theoretical resolution of 40 m at a frame rate of 32 Hz) was used for vascular imaging. The brachiocephalic artery and ascending aorta were visualized in two different projections, a longaxis view and a cross-sectional short-axis view in line with previously published protocol (16). According to the published data, for measurements of aortic intima media thickness, intra-and interobserver variability are 4.7% and 6.7%, respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Using a high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM), we are now able to follow mouse atherosclerotic plaque growth over time in a noninvasive manner (16). In addition, mouse coronary artery function can be studied in vivo using colorDoppler echocardiography using a recently developed protocol (52).…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of rosuvastatin on cardiovascular morphology and function in an ApoE-knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis

Grönros¹,

Wikström²,

Brandt-Eliasson³

et al. 2008

American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

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Grönros J, Wikström J, Brandt-Eliasson U, Forsberg GB, Behrendt M, Hansson GI, Gan LM. Effects of rosuvastatin on cardiovascular morphology and function in an ApoE-knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H2046-H2053, 2008. First published September 12, 2008 doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00133.2008.-This study investigated the effects of rosuvastatin on plaque progression and in vivo coronary artery function in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice, using noninvasive high-resolution ultrasound techniques. Eightweek-old male ApoE-KO mice (n ϭ 20) were fed a high-fat diet with or without rosuvastatin (10 mol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ day Ϫ1 ) for 16 wk. When compared with control, rosuvastatin reduced total cholesterol levels (P Ͻ 0.05) and caused significant retardation of lesion progression in the brachiocephalic artery, as visualized in vivo using an ultrasound biomicroscope (P Ͻ 0.05). Histological analysis confirmed the reduction of brachiocephalic atherosclerosis and also revealed an increase in collagen content in the statin-treated group (P Ͻ 0.05). Coronary volumetric flow was measured by simultaneous recording of Doppler velocity signals and left coronary artery morphology before and during adenosine infusion. The hyperemic flow in response to adenosine was significantly greater in left coronary artery following 16 wk of rosuvastatin treatment (P Ͻ 0.001), whereas the baseline flow was similar in both groups. In conclusion, rosuvastatin reduced brachiocephalic artery atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-KO mice. Coronary artery function assessed using recently developed in vivo ultrasoundbased protocols, also improved. apolipoprotein E-knockout mouse; ultrasound imaging; atherosclerosis; rosuvastatin THE INHIBITION OF 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase using statins has become a standard treatment regimen in patients with atherosclerosis. In addition to their cholesterol-lowering effects (11,20), statins have been shown to retard the progression of atherosclerosis (36), improve endothelial function (37, 45), reduce systemic inflammatory markers (32, 41), and reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity (1). Recently, the clinical regression of coronary artery atherosclerosis was reported with the use of a thirdgeneration statin (35).Despite the success of statins, cardiovascular mortality and morbidity still remain high in developed countries. When one explores new therapeutic strategies to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, it is increasingly important to demonstrate the beneficial antiatherosclerotic effects on top of the cholesterol-lowering effect of statin as well as potential pleiotrophic effects. In line with this approach, atherosclerotic animal models that can respond to currently available statin treatments are key for translational research.The effects of various statins in atherosclerotic mice are inconclusive. Differences in genetic modifications, sex, diet, as well as differences in the statins themselves, have produced different results (55). ...

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“…Although experimental atherosclerosis can be assessed using advanced imaging techniques such as angiography, Doppler ultrasound, B-mode ultrasound and magnetic resonance (30)(31)(32), the main methods employed in the quantification of mouse atherosclerosis are those mentioned in this brief review.…”

Section: Methods Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

Pitfalls in the assessment of murine atherosclerosis

Catanozi

Rocha

Passarelli

et al. 2009

Braz J Med Biol Res

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This review provides examples of the fact that different procedures for the measurement of atherosclerosis in mice may lead to interpretation of the extent of atherosclerosis having markedly different biological and clinical significance for humans: 1) aortic cholesterol measurement is highly sensitive for the detection of early and advanced atherosclerosis lesions, but misses the identification of the location and complexity of these lesions that are so critical for humans; 2) the histological analysis of the aortic root lesions in simvastatin-treated and control mice reveals similar lesion morphology in spite of the remarkable simvastatin-induced reduction of the aortic cholesteryl ester content; 3) in histological analyses, chemical fixation and inclusion may extract the tissue fat and also shrink and distort tissue structures. Thus, the method may be less sensitive for the detection of slight differences among the experimental groups, unless a more suitable procedure employing physical fixation with histological sample freezing using optimal cutting temperature and liquid nitrogen is employed. Thus, when measuring experimental atherosclerosis in mice, investigators should be aware of several previously unreported pitfalls regarding the extent, location and complexity of the arterial lesion that may not be suitable for extrapolation to human pathology.

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Non-invasive real-time imaging of atherosclerosis in mice using ultrasound biomicroscopy

Cited by 62 publications

References 13 publications

Increased intima thickness of the radial artery in patients with coronary heart disease

Increased intima thickness of the radial artery in patients with coronary heart disease

Effects of rosuvastatin on cardiovascular morphology and function in an ApoE-knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis

Pitfalls in the assessment of murine atherosclerosis

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