@article{discovery10060068, number = {2}, volume = {27}, note = {This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.}, pages = {85--93}, title = {A Preclinical Ultrasound Method for the Assessment of Vascular Disease Progression in Murine Models}, year = {2019}, journal = {Ultrasound}, keywords = {Vessel wall-motion, animal models, diagnostic imaging, in vivo, high-frequency ultrasound}, issn = {1743-1344}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of preclinical ultrasound at providing a quantitative assessment of mouse models of vascular disease is relatively unknown. In this study, preclinical ultrasound was used in combination with a semi-automatic image processing method to track arterial distension alterations in mouse models of abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis. METHODS: Longitudinal B-mode ultrasound images of the abdominal aorta were acquired using a preclinical ultrasound scanner. Arterial distension was assessed using a semi-automatic image processing algorithm to track vessel wall motion over the cardiac cycle. A standard, manual analysis method was applied for comparison. RESULTS: Mean arterial distension was significantly lower in abdominal aortic aneurysm mice between day 0 and day 7 post-onset of disease (p {\ensuremath{<}} 0.01) and between day 0 and day 14 (p {\ensuremath{<}} 0.001), while no difference was observed in sham control mice. Manual analysis detected a significant decrease (p {\ensuremath{<}} 0.05) between day 0 and day 14 only. Atherosclerotic mice showed alterations in arterial distension relating to genetic modification and diet. Arterial distension was significantly lower (p {\ensuremath{<}} 0.05) in Ldlr?/?(++/??) mice fed high-fat western diet when compared with both wild type (++/++) mice and Ldlr?/?(++/??) mice fed chow diet. The manual method did not detect a significant difference between these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial distension can be used as an early marker for the detection of arterial disease in murine models. The semi-automatic analysis method provided increased sensitivity to differences between experimental groups when compared to the manual analysis method.}, author = {Janus, J and Kanber, B and Mahbuba, W and Beynon, C and Ramnarine, KV and Lambert, DG and Samani, NJ and Stringer, EJ and Kelly, ME}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1742271X18793919} }