Wall shear stress analysis using 17.6 Tesla MRI: A longitudinal study in ApoE-/- mice with histological analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wall shear stress analysis using 17.6 Tesla MRI: A longitudinal study in ApoE-/- mice with histological analysis

AU - Riedl, Katharina A

AU - Kampf, Thomas

AU - Herold, Volker

AU - Behr, Volker C

AU - Bauer, Wolfgang R

PY - 2020/8

Y1 - 2020/8

N2 - This longitudinal study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of detecting the interaction between wall shear stress (WSS) and plaque development. 20 ApoE-/- mice were separated in 12 mice with Western Diet and 8 mice with Chow Diet. Magnetic resonance (MR) scans at 17.6 Tesla and histological analysis were performed after one week, eight and twelve weeks. All in vivo MR measurements were acquired using a flow sensitive phase contrast method for determining vectorial flow. Histological sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Elastica van Gieson and CD68 staining. Data analysis was performed using Ensight and a Matlab-based "Flow Tool". The body weight of ApoE-/- mice increased significantly over 12 weeks. WSS values increased in the Western Diet group over the time period; in contrast, in the Chow Diet group the values decreased from the first to the second measurement point. Western Diet mice showed small plaque formations with elastin fragmentations after 8 weeks and big plaque formations after 12 weeks; Chow Diet mice showed a few elastin fragmentations after 8 weeks and small plaque formations after 12 weeks. Favored by high-fat diet, plaque formation results in higher values of WSS. With wall shear stress being a known predictor for atherosclerotic plaque development, ultra highfield MRI can serve as a tool for studying the causes and beginnings of atherosclerosis.

AB - This longitudinal study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of detecting the interaction between wall shear stress (WSS) and plaque development. 20 ApoE-/- mice were separated in 12 mice with Western Diet and 8 mice with Chow Diet. Magnetic resonance (MR) scans at 17.6 Tesla and histological analysis were performed after one week, eight and twelve weeks. All in vivo MR measurements were acquired using a flow sensitive phase contrast method for determining vectorial flow. Histological sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Elastica van Gieson and CD68 staining. Data analysis was performed using Ensight and a Matlab-based "Flow Tool". The body weight of ApoE-/- mice increased significantly over 12 weeks. WSS values increased in the Western Diet group over the time period; in contrast, in the Chow Diet group the values decreased from the first to the second measurement point. Western Diet mice showed small plaque formations with elastin fragmentations after 8 weeks and big plaque formations after 12 weeks; Chow Diet mice showed a few elastin fragmentations after 8 weeks and small plaque formations after 12 weeks. Favored by high-fat diet, plaque formation results in higher values of WSS. With wall shear stress being a known predictor for atherosclerotic plaque development, ultra highfield MRI can serve as a tool for studying the causes and beginnings of atherosclerosis.

KW - Animals

KW - Aorta/diagnostic imaging

KW - Apolipoproteins E/deficiency

KW - Atherosclerosis/diagnostic imaging

KW - Body Weight

KW - Diet, Western

KW - Disease Models, Animal

KW - Feasibility Studies

KW - Female

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging/instrumentation

KW - Mice, Knockout

KW - Plaque, Atherosclerotic/diagnostic imaging

KW - Random Allocation

KW - Regional Blood Flow

KW - Stress, Mechanical

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0238112

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0238112

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 32857805

VL - 15

JO - PLOS ONE

JF - PLOS ONE

SN - 1932-6203

IS - 8

M1 - e0238112

ER -