Ultrasonographic and histological evaluation of the effects of long-term carotid catheterization on cardiac function in NMRI mice

Morphometry of the Brachiocephalic Artery: A Cadaveric Anatomical Study

Introduction

The brachiocephalic artery (BCA) is the largest branch that arises from the aortic arch, which varies in length. The present study focuses on BCA length and its probable correlation with height and torso length.

Methods

The BCA length (from the artery’s origin to the arcus aortae), the length of the torso, and height were measured in 76 embalmed adult human cadavers of Caucasian (Hellenic) origin.

Results

A total of 74 arteries were measured (36 females and 38 males). The mean length was found to be 3.82 cm (SD=±0.947, SE=0.110). In male cadavers, the mean BCA length was 3.94 cm (SD=±0.980, SE=0.159) and in females, it was found to be 3.69 cm (SD=±0.905, SE=0.151). No statistically significant difference was found (p=0.248, p>0.05) The mean torso length was 62.27 cm (SD=±4.325, SE=0.496) and the mean height was 155.3 cm (SD=±10.124, SE=1.161). The BCA length was correlated with body height and torso length in both sexes. A statistically significant correlation was found only between BCA length and body height in male cadavers (r=0.267, p=0.021).

Conclusion

The morphometric characteristics of the BCA are of great importance in a number of surgical procedures, such as stenting and catheterization in cases of aneurysms. One statistically significant correlation was observed in our study, which could be considered an important finding, as it could lead to the plausible assumption that greater height leads to the formation of larger arteries.

Clinical, Physiologic, and Behavioral Evaluation of Permanently Catheterized NMRI Mice

Vascular catheterization is becoming a popular technique in laboratory rodents, facilitating repetitive blood sampling and infusion in individual animals. In mice, catheterization is complicated by their small body size, which may increase the risk of postoperative complications that may both threaten catheter longevity and animal welfare. Less obvious complications to a permanent catheter may include subclinical infection, visceral tissue damage from disseminating microthrombi released from the catheter, and distress from being isolated from conspecifics and other experimental stressors. Such complications may go unnoticed and may affect animal welfare as well as confound research outcomes. This study investigated the implications of long-term arterial catheterization in NMRI mice by evaluating clinical, physiologic and behavioral parameters. Body weight and food and water consumptions were monitored during the study period. Fecal corticosterone metabolites were quantified as biomarkers of stress, and nucleic acid metabolites (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanisine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine) as biomarkers of oxidative damage. Behavioral dysfunction was studied by scoring animal welfare and nest building. Catheters were placed the right common carotid artery of mice; catheterized mice were compared with sham-operated and nonsurgical control mice. Except for an increase in the body weight of catheterized mice during the experimental period, clinical parameters (body weight and food and water consumptions) did not differ between groups. Physiologic parameters (oxidized nucleic acid metabolites and fecal corticosterone metabolites) were higher in control mice during the first week of experimentation compared with the end of study but did not differ between groups. Likewise, catheterization had no effect on behavioral parameters (nest building and animal welfare assessment). Long-term arterial catheterization of mice had no detectable implications on animal welfare in this study.