超声生物显微镜成像对载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠早期动脉粥样硬化的分析

目的 利用超声生物显微镜（UBM）成像分析载脂蛋白E基因敲除（ApoE-/-）小鼠主动脉早期动脉粥样硬化（AS）的超声特征.方法 8周龄和16周龄雄性ApoE-/-小鼠各8只为实验组,同周龄的雄性C57BL/6小鼠各8只为对照组.使用UBM观察小鼠主动脉根部、升主动脉和主动脉弓的形态结构,并于主动脉根部短轴切面测量内-中膜厚度（IMT）.检查后处死小鼠取标本,行病理学检查.结果 ApoE-/-小鼠的主动脉根部IMT较同周龄对照组增厚,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;16周龄ApoE-/-小鼠较8周龄ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉根部IMT增厚更为明显,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）.形态学病理检查显示6只16周龄ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉根部、升主动脉小弯侧及无名动脉可见局部管壁增厚,有散在白色脂纹形成.结论 UBM成像可无创观察活体ApoE-/-小鼠升主动脉早期AS的病变特征,能有效监测ApoE-/-小鼠AS病变的进程.

Analysis of early-stage atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice by ultrasound biomicroscopy

Objective To analyze the ultrasound characteristics of the early-stage atherosclerosis （AS） of aorta in apolipoprotein-E knockout （ ApoE - / - ） mice by ultrasound biomicroscopy （UBM）. Methods Eight male 8-week mice ApoE -/- mice and 8 male 16-week ApoE -/- mice were used as experimental group, and age-matched and week-matched male C57BL/6 mice were used as control group. The morphology of the aortic root, the ascending aorta and the aortic arch were observed by UBM, and the intima-media thicknes （IMT） was measured at the aortic root short-axis view. Then the pathological examinations were taken. Results The IMT of aotic root in ApoE-/- mice was thicker than that of control group （P 〈 0.01 ） , the IMT of 16-week were thicker than that of 8-weeks ApoE-/- mice （P 〈 0.01 ）. The morphology pathlogical examination showed there were white fatty streaks in the walls of aortic root, lesser curvature side of ascending aorta and innominate artery in six 16-week ApoE-/- mice, and the walls became thicker. Conclusion UBM can non-invasively observe the characteristics of earlystage ascending aorta AS in ApoE - / - mice in vivo, it can be used to efficiently monitor the progression of AS in ApoE - / - mice.