BACKGROUND: Intraarterial infusion of elastase has been used to create an experimental model of aortic aneurysm in rats. Unfortunately, the utility of this model is limited by a high mortality rate among experimental animals. This study examined the factors influencing mortality to help refine this model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 126 Wistar rats were divided into six groups. A 1.0-cm segment of infra-renal abdominal aorta was clamped (n = 21), clamped and cannulated via the femoral artery (n = 21), infused with saline (n = 21), or infused with solution containing 25 U of elastase from three different lots (each group, n = 21). Clamping or infusion was performed for 30 (n = 7), 60 (n = 7), and 120 min (n = 7). The mortality rates were calculated at 7 days. RESULTS: There were no deaths in the clamp group, but 29% of the rats that underwent cannulation with clamping or saline infusion for 2 h died. The mortality rate for a 30-min elastase infusion ranged from 0 to 71%. Mortality for a 60-min infusion ranged from 14 to 100%. Mortality for a 2-h infusion ranged from 43 to 100%. The mortality rate was dependent on the treatment time and the elastase lot number. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic cannulation, elastase infusion, and prolonged infusion times all increase the mortality rate in the elastase-induced rat aortic aneurysm model. Mortality is also dependent on the elastase lot number. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
BACKGROUND: Intraarterial infusion of elastase has been used to create an experimental model of aortic aneurysm in rats. Unfortunately, the utility of this model is limited by a high mortality rate among experimental animals. This study examined the factors influencing mortality to help refine this model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 126 Wistar rats were divided into six groups. A 1.0-cm segment of infra-renal abdominal aorta was clamped (n = 21), clamped and cannulated via the femoral artery (n = 21), infused with saline (n = 21), or infused with solution containing 25 U of elastase from three different lots (each group, n = 21). Clamping or infusion was performed for 30 (n = 7), 60 (n = 7), and 120 min (n = 7). The mortality rates were calculated at 7 days. RESULTS: There were no deaths in the clamp group, but 29% of the rats that underwent cannulation with clamping or saline infusion for 2 h died. The mortality rate for a 30-min elastase infusion ranged from 0 to 71%. Mortality for a 60-min infusion ranged from 14 to 100%. Mortality for a 2-h infusion ranged from 43 to 100%. The mortality rate was dependent on the treatment time and the elastase lot number. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic cannulation, elastase infusion, and prolonged infusion times all increase the mortality rate in the elastase-induced rataortic aneurysm model. Mortality is also dependent on the elastase lot number. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Authors: Joerg Heckenkamp; Thomas Luebke; Thorsten Theis; Lukas Schumacher; Michael Gawenda; Roland Thul; Jochen W U Fries; Jan Brunkwall Journal: Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg Date: 2012-04-03