In Vivo Assessment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the Elastase-Induced Mouse Model

Michel a Bartoli¹, Frank Kober¹, Patrick J Cozzone¹, Monique Bernard¹

The elastase perfusion mouse model is one of the most reliable animal models of Abdominal Aortic Aneurism formation. This MRI study at 11.75T aimed at evaluating the reliability of longitudinal in vivo aortic diameter and wall thickness measurements in mice after aortic perfusion with elastase or with heat-inactivated elastase in control animals. Vessel diameter was significantly greater in elastase-perfused mice compared to controls with both the optic grid measurement and the MRI measurement of the outer diameter. Aortic wall area was significantly greater in elastase mice compared with control mice. Optic and MRI measurements showed good correlation.