Ultrasound biomicroscopy for longitudinal studies of carotid plaque development in mice: validation with histological endpoints.

ABSTRACT: Atherosclerosis is responsible for the death of thousands of Americans each year. The carotid constriction model of plaque development has recently been presented as a model for unstable plaque formation in mice. In this study we 1) validate ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for the determination of carotid plaque size, percent stenosis, and plaque development in live animals, 2) determine the sensitivity of UBM in detecting changes in blood flow induced by carotid constriction and 3) test whether plaque formation can be predicted from blood flow parameters measured by UBM. Carotid plaques were induced by surgical constriction in Apo E⁻/⁻ mice. Arteries were imaged bi-weekly by UBM, at which time PW-Doppler measurements of proximal blood flow, as well as plaque length and percent stenosis wer

SUBMITTER: Harmon EY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3252361 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature