Similarity of the Swine Vasculature to the Human Carotid Bifurcation: Analysis of Arterial Diameters

Abstract

We assessed the similarities of the iliac bifurcation in two breeds of swine to the known human carotid bifurcation, in order to assess its applicability as a preclinical model of the human carotid bifurcation. Mixed-Landrace crossbreed (domestic; n = 66) and Yucatan miniswine (Yucatan; n = 13) were studied. The diameters of the iliac bifurcation arteries were measured from angiographic pictures, the relations between the arterial diameters and the animal's weight assessed, and diametrical ratios calculated. Findings were compared with the known human carotid bifurcation. The external iliac diameter (approximately 6-7mm) in the lower weight swine was similar to the known human common carotid artery. The best similarity was found between the diametrical ratios of the human internal to common carotid artery (mean 0.63) to the swine profunda to external iliac (means 0.68 and 0.65 for the domestic and Yucatan, respectively). The arterial diameters of the domestic swine were highly correlated with their weight that increased considerably with time, while in the Yucatan group, arterial diameters did not change with increasing weight and the average weight increase rate was low. Thus, the estimated arterial diameter increase rate over time was high in the domestic while minor in the Yucatan group. Similarities were found between the swine iliac bifurcation arteries to the human carotid bifurcation in terms of diameters, diametrical ratios and angle. The swine iliac bifurcation may be used for preclinical endovascular research of devices intended to the human carotid bifurcation, with miniswine strains a preferable model for long-term studies.