A Murine Model of Carotid Aneurysm Formation
September 9th, 2025
The present protocol describes a standardized surgical method for the induction of carotid aneurysms in a murine model through a single surgical operation.
Our research works are reproducible murine carotid aneurysm model to investigate mechanisms and evaluate new therapeutic strategies for analyzing treatment. To begin, prepare the surgical site on the animal with Betadine and 70%ethanol solutions. And place the surgical drape.
Using surgical scissors, make a one centimeter vertical incision along the midline of the neck. Starting from just below the jawline. Cut through the dermis and underlying fascia.
Use blunt forceps to mobilize the submandibular gland laterally. Taking care not to damage surrounding tissues. Gently lift the gland and separate it from the sternum by blunt dissection.
Secure the gland with a small sterile retractor or clip to maintain a clear surgical field. Identify the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle. Use blunt forceps to lift the muscle gently, and thread a 5/0 braided silk suture underneath.
Reflect the muscle laterally by gently pulling the suture to expose the carotid sheath. Open the carotid sheath using sharp forceps. Carefully separate the carotid artery from the adjacent jugular vein and vagus nerve.
To improve visibility, insert a sterile silicone cuff or retractor beneath the carotid artery. Avoid causing trauma to the artery or surrounding structures. Using sharp forceps, scoop the carotid artery and thread a 9/0 suture underneath.
Tie a secure double knot to ligate the artery, ensuring proper tension to occlude blood flow without damaging the vessel. Trim the suture ends to minimize tissue irritation. Using a syringe, apply a couple of drops of sterile porcine elastase solution at 10 units diluted in one milliliter of saline solution over 10 or 20 minutes.
Once the elastase treatment time is completed, use a sterile cotton swab to remove excess elastase. If desired, use sterile normal saline to wash out the remaining elastase solution. Finally, remove any retaining sutures or clips to prepare for closure.
Approximate the skin edges using sterile nylon suture 5/0 or surgical staples. Finally, apply gentle pressure with sterile gauze to ensure hemostasis. A total of 15 female wild type mice underwent the aneurysm induction procedure following the standardized protocol.
Two weeks after surgery, aneurysm formation was successfully achieved in approximately 87%of the mice as confirmed by gross morphological examination. Aneurysm formation was also visualized under microscopy by disruption of the internal elastic lamina. Our results shows that in the Matiq base ward degradation combined with altered human dynamics reproduces key in human dynamic groups.
Compared with intercranial models, our approach is faster, more accessible, and allow testing when in the background of former project intubations in mice. This standardized murine model promotes cross study comparability and helps write therapeutics testing for aneurysm prevention and treatment.
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Overview
This protocol outlines a standardized surgical method for inducing carotid aneurysms in a murine model. The procedure is designed to facilitate reproducibility in research aimed at understanding aneurysm mechanisms and testing new therapies.
Key Study Components
Area of Science
- Neuroscience
- Surgical Techniques
- Animal Models
Background
- Carotid aneurysms are significant in studying vascular diseases.
- Murine models provide a controlled environment for research.
- Standardized methods enhance reproducibility across studies.
- Understanding aneurysm mechanisms can lead to better treatments.
Purpose of Study
- To establish a reliable murine model for carotid aneurysms.
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms of aneurysm formation.
- To evaluate new therapeutic strategies for treatment.
Methods Used
- Preparation of the surgical site using Betadine and ethanol.
- Placement of a surgical drape for sterility.
- Making a vertical incision along the midline of the neck.
- Cutting through the dermis and underlying fascia to access the carotid artery.
Main Results
- The protocol successfully induces carotid aneurysms in murine models.
- Reproducibility of the model allows for consistent research outcomes.
- Facilitates the evaluation of therapeutic strategies.
- Provides a foundation for further studies on aneurysm mechanisms.
Conclusions
- The standardized surgical method is effective for inducing carotid aneurysms.
- This model can advance understanding of aneurysm pathology.
- It supports the development of new treatment approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Executive Industry Relevance
Reliable animal models are critical for de-risking early-stage cerebrovascular target validation and for enabling reproducible preclinical evaluation of therapeutic strategies. This streamlined murine carotid aneurysm model addresses technical barriers to reproducibility, supporting standardized cross-study comparisons and accelerating translational research. Its high procedural success rate and operational simplicity position it as a scalable platform for mechanistic interrogation and therapeutic screening in vascular disease pipelines.
Strategic Applications in Biopharma R&D
Early Discovery & Target Validation
- Enables robust interrogation of aneurysm pathophysiology in a controlled in vivo system.
- Supports functional validation of molecular targets implicated in vascular remodeling and rupture risk.
- Facilitates mechanistic de-risking by providing consistent biological readouts across cohorts.
Screening & Assay Development
- Provides a reproducible platform for evaluating candidate therapeutics targeting aneurysm formation or progression.
- Standardizes biological endpoints, improving assay comparability and downstream data integration.
- Enables quantitative assessment of intervention efficacy using morphological and histological outputs.
Translational & Preclinical Research
- Aligns with disease-relevant vascular injury mechanisms observed in human aneurysm pathology.
- Supports continuity from discovery through preclinical validation by enabling longitudinal studies of intervention impact.
- Reduces variability, enhancing predictive confidence for translational advancement decisions.
Pipeline & Workflow Integration
This model integrates into the discovery-to-preclinical continuum by providing a standardized in vivo system for hypothesis testing, target validation, and therapeutic screening in cerebrovascular research.
- Discovery Biology: Facilitates hypothesis-driven investigation of aneurysm mechanisms and target engagement.
- Screening: Delivers reproducible, quantitative endpoints for compound evaluation and prioritization.
- Analytics: Enables morphological and histological measurements to compare intervention groups.
- Translational Research: Bridges early discovery findings with preclinical efficacy data in a disease-relevant context.
- Enterprise Reuse: Offers a scalable, standardized model adaptable for diverse vascular research programs.
Operational & Enterprise Impact
- Scientific Value: Increases predictive confidence and reduces mechanistic ambiguity in aneurysm research.
- Operational Value: Streamlines procedures, enhances reproducibility, and lowers technical barriers for adoption.
- Strategic Value: Improves go/no-go decision quality and capital efficiency in early-stage vascular portfolios.
- Portfolio Impact: Supports risk-adjusted prioritization and advancement of cerebrovascular therapeutic candidates.
Implementation Considerations
- Requires surgical proficiency and familiarity with murine vascular anatomy.
- Needs access to standard surgical instrumentation and histological analysis capabilities.
- Demands protocol standardization across teams to ensure reproducibility and data comparability.
- Adaptable to various genetic backgrounds or intervention regimens as supported by procedural consistency.
- Potential limitations include intraoperative mortality and the need for post-surgical monitoring to ensure animal welfare.
