Abstract
The quantification of aortic lesions is an important endpoint analysis for evaluating atherogenesis in mouse models of atherosclerosis. Morphometric methods involving the staining of aorta with a Sudan lysochrome followed by image analysis of the stained lesion area are commonly used. We have developed a more rapid method involving solubilisation of the stain retained by aortic lesions. In 2 separate studies, 5-week-old male apoE(-/-) and C57BL/6 wild-type (apoE(+/+)) mice were given a high fat (21%), Western-type diet for 13, 15 or 25 weeks. At study termination, the descending thoracic aorta (DA) and/or aortic arch (AA) were stained with Oil Red O (ORO). The incorporated stain was extracted using chloroform/methanol (2:1) solvent and quantified by spectrophotometry at 520 nm. In study 1 (13 weeks), ORO stain in the AA and DA of apoE(-/-) mice was 1.9 and 1.4 times higher than background staining of apoE(+/+) aorta tissue, respectively. At 15 and 25 weeks (study 2), ORO stain in the AA of apoE(-/-) mice was 1.9 and 2.5 times higher than the background, respectively. We conclude that the ORO solubilisation technique applied to AA samples is a very useful and rapid method for atherosclerotic lesion quantification. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 347-352 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Vascular Research |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 10 Jan 2009 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2009 |
Keywords
- atherosclerosis
- atherosclerotic lesions
- apoE(-/-) mice
- plaque quantification
- lysochrome
- oil red o
- mouse models
- apolipoprotein-E
- deficient mice
- apoe
- apoE–/– mice