P136: Elastase-induced porcine aneurysm formation is associated with the upregulation of inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases

Abstract

Objective: The pathways involved in the formation of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are incompletely defined. Most animal models created to study the pathophysiology of AAA development use small animals (rats, mice). However, these cannot be used to study vascular intervention. This study uses a porcine aneurysm model combining mechanical radial dilation and elastase perfusion and examines alterations in gene expression at various time points using microarray analysis. Methods: Aortic aneurysms were created in male Yorkshire swine by first dilating the infrarenal aorta with an angioplasty balloon 14 mm in diameter followed by local perfusion with elastase and collagenase.