Wang Hua-ting, Shan Zhen, Li Wen, Chu Maoping, Yang Jian, Yi Dan, Zhan Jiaxin, Yuan Zu-Yi, Raikwar Sudhanshu, Wang Shenming, Zhang Chunxiang
Department of Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Research Center, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, 1735 West Harrison St, Cohn Building, Suite 406, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2015 Mar;8(2):89-95. doi: 10.1007/s12265-015-9614-8. Epub 2015 Feb 21.
The study is to establish a novel method to determine the endothelial function in mouse carotid arteries in vivo by using high-resolution ultrasound images. Atherosclerosis in carotid arteries is induced in ApoE(-/-) mice with a Western diet. The ultrasound of the ventral neck generates clear pictures of the common carotid arteries. Acetylcholine at the range from 5 to 20 μg/kg/min (iv) is able to induce a dose-dependent relaxation as shown by the increased diameter of these normal mouse carotid arteries, which is impaired in atherosclerotic arteries. The endothelial function determined by ultrasound images in vivo matches well with that determined in isolated carotid arterial rings in vitro. All animals survived after the endothelial function measurement. In this study, we have established a standard method to determine the mouse endothelial function in vivo. It is a reliable, safe, and survival method that could be used repetitively in mouse arteries.
本研究旨在建立一种利用高分辨率超声图像在体测定小鼠颈动脉内皮功能的新方法。采用西方饮食诱导ApoE(-/-)小鼠发生颈动脉粥样硬化。对小鼠颈部腹侧进行超声检查可清晰显示颈总动脉图像。静脉注射5至20μg/kg/min的乙酰胆碱能够诱导正常小鼠颈动脉直径增加，呈剂量依赖性舒张反应，而在动脉粥样硬化的动脉中这种反应受损。通过超声图像在体测定的内皮功能与在体外分离的颈动脉环中测定的结果高度吻合。内皮功能测量后所有动物均存活。在本研究中，我们建立了一种在体测定小鼠内皮功能的标准方法。这是一种可靠、安全且能使动物存活的方法，可在小鼠动脉中重复使用。
