Histopathological Studies of Aortic Dissection in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic APA Hamsters

Abstract

Syrian hamsters of the APA strain (APA hamsters) are known to show continuous diabetes accompanied by its complications, such as glomerulosclerosis and atherosclerosis, following a single injection of streptozotocin (SZAPA hamsters were established at the Institute of Medical Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Japan [10], and have been maintained as an inbred strain at Japan SLC since 1995. They are known to show a continuous diabetic state accompanied by its complications, such as glomerulosclerosis and atherosclerosis, following a single injection of streptozotocin (SZ) [4,7,12]. Recently, we observed Stanford type B aortic dissection in three diabetic APA hamsters when we investigated the effect of probucol on atherosclerosis in long-term diabetic APA hamsters.Aortic dissection is characterized by splits of the aortic media resulting in the formation of a new lumen (a false lumen). This is still a common and frequent fatal Japan aortic disease in spite of great advances in the medicine and surgery of the human circulation system. Possible etiologies like chronic systemic hypertension, mechanical rupture of branch arteries or vasa vasorum, Marfan's syndrome, overexpression of angiotensin II, and traumatic, atherosclerotic, or inflammatory injuries of the aortic media have been reported [1,3,9], but their roles in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection are still controversial. In this study, we histopathologically and immunohistochemically characterized aortic dissection in SZ-induced diabetic APA hamsters. To our knowledge, this is the first report on aortic dissection in chronically diabetic experimental animals.Male APA hamsters were purchased from Japan SLC

The Experimental Use of Syrian Hamsters

“…The STZ-induced diabetic APA hamster is a good model of human diabetic nephropathy because progressive renal lesions are a common component of this model. In addition to renal lesions, the diabetic APA hamster also develops coronary lesions and is an excellent model to investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of aortic dissection accompanying diabetes mellitus in humans (Horiuchi et al, 2005).…”

Phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis, hypertension, and aortic dissection

“…Likewise, chondrocyte-like VSMCs have been shown to contribute to the formation of neointima (Beazley et al, 2013;Kuro-o et al, 1991). In relevance to this, neointima has been observed in aortic dissection patients, particularly in those with chronic or recurrent dissection (Horiuchi et al, 2005). Additionally, although contractile VSMCs undergoes apoptosis, synthetic VSMCs with osteoblast-or chondrocyte-like phenotypes have been shown to be resistant to apoptosis, which may contribute to the accumulation of these cells in the arterial wall and the progression of aortic dissection (Bennett & Boyle, 1998;Bennett et al, 1995).…”

Biology and Diseases of Hamsters

“…Chemical agents such as streptozotocin (STZ) or alloxan can be used; however, STZ may be more effective and reliable than alloxan (Phares, 1980). Syrian hamsters of the albino-panda-albino (APA) strain develop diabetes with nephropathy following STZ injections and also develop coronary lesions (Horiuchi et al, 2005). Diabetes mellitus can also be induced via dietary modifications.…”