Morphometry and strain distribution of the C57BL/6 mouse aorta.

The goal of the present study was to obtain a systematic set of data along the length of the mouse aorta to study variations of morphometry (diameter, wall thickness, and curvature), strain, and stress of the mouse aorta. Five mice were imaged with a 13-MHz ultrasound probe to determine the in vivo diameter along the aorta. A cast was made of these aortas to validate the ultrasonic diameter measurements. The root mean squared and systematic errors for these measurements were 12.6% and 6.4% of the mean ultrasound diameter, respectively. The longitudinal variations of geometry, stress, and strain from the aortic valve to the common iliac bifurcation were documented. Our results show that the residual circumferential strain leads to a uniformity of transmural strain of the aorta in the loaded state along the entire length of the aorta. Furthermore, we validated the incompressibility condition along the length of the aorta. These data of normal mice will serve as a reference state for the study of disease in future knockout models.