Carotid Calcification in Mice: A New Model to Study the Effects of Arterial Stiffness on the Brain

Nataliya Sadekova; Diane Vallerand; Edgar Guevara; Frédéric Lesage; Hélène Girouard

doi:10.1161/jaha.113.000224

journal article May 20, 2013

Carotid Calcification in Mice: A New Model to Study the Effects of Arterial Stiffness on the Brain

Nataliya Sadekova Diane Vallerand Edgar Guevara Frédéric Lesage

Hélène Girouard

Journal of the American Heart Association Vol. 2 No. 3 · Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

View at Publisher Save 10.1161/jaha.113.000224

Abstract

Background
Arterial stiffness has been identified as an important risk factor for cognitive decline. However, its effects on the brain's health are unknown, and there is no animal model available to study the precise impact of arterial stiffness on the brain. Therefore, the objective of the study was to develop and characterize a new model specific to arterial stiffness in order to study its effects on the brain.

Methods and Results

Calcium chloride (CaCl
2
) was applied to carotid arteries of mice, inducing an increase in collagen distribution and intima–media thickness, a fragmentation of elastin, a decrease in arterial compliance and distensibility, and an increase in cerebral blood flow pulsatility (n=3 to 11). Calcium deposits were only present at the site of CaCl
2
application, and there was no increase in systemic blood pressure or change in vessel radius making this model specific for arterial stiffness. The effects of carotid stiffness were then assessed in the brain. Carotid calcification induced an increase in the production of cerebral superoxide anion and neurodegeneration, detected with
F
luoro‐
J
ade B staining, in the hippocampus (n=3 to 5), a key region for memory and cognition.

Conclusions
A new model of arterial stiffness based on carotid calcification was developed and characterized. This new model meets all the characteristics of arterial stiffness, and its specificity allows the study of the effects of arterial stiffness on the brain.

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37

Citations

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References

Details

Published: May 20, 2013
Vol/Issue: 2(3)

Authors

N

Nataliya Sadekova

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

D

Diane Vallerand

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

E

Edgar Guevara

Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Bélanger Est, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

F

Frédéric Lesage

Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Bélanger Est, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

H

Hélène Girouard

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Cite This Article

Nataliya Sadekova, Diane Vallerand, Edgar Guevara, et al. (2013). Carotid Calcification in Mice: A New Model to Study the Effects of Arterial Stiffness on the Brain. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.113.000224

Carotid Calcification in Mice: A New Model to Study the Effects of Arterial Stiffness on the Brain

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