Abstract WMP32: Adaptive and Maladaptive Remodeling in Flow Loaded Rat Cerebral Arteries: Potential Significance to Pathogenesis of Cerebral Aneurysms

Background and purpose: In animal models, flow loading is a necessary and sufficient hemodynamic factor to express the cerebral aneurysm (CA) phenotype. Promotional biological factors may include variant forms of the adaptive response to flow loading. Using a rat model, this study characterizes molecular events that comprise cerebral arterial responses to flow loading and reveals their significance in relation to the CA phenotype. Methods: 32 rats underwent bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCL) (n=16) or sham surgery (SS)(n=16). Nineteen days later, vertebrobasilar arteries were harvested, histologically examined and analyzed for mRNA and protein expression. Flow (shear) induced changes in mRNA expression, protein expression and histology were determined by comparing BCL to SS rats. Differences between aneurysm-prone (Long Evans, LE) and resistant (Brown Norway, BN) strains were evaluated. Results: Basilar artery medial thickness/luminal diameter ratio was significantly reduced in BCL rats, witho...