Quantification of plaque neovascularization using contrast ultrasound: a histologic validation.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The density of vasa vasorum within atherosclerotic plaque correlates with histologic features of plaque vulnerability in post-mortem studies. Imaging methods to non-invasively detect vasa vasorum are limited. We hypothesized that contrast ultrasound (CUS) can quantify vasa vasorum during atherosclerosis progression.

Methods and results

New Zealand white rabbits received a high-fat diet for 3 weeks, and bilateral femoral artery stenosis was induced by balloon injury. Contrast ultrasound femoral imaging was performed at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 weeks post injury to quantify adventitial videointensity. At each imaging time point 10 vessels were sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and von-Willebrand factor. Adventitial vasa vasorum density was quantified by co

SUBMITTER: Moguillansky D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3046374 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature