Extravascular optical coherence tomography: evaluation of carotid atherosclerosis and pravastatin therapy

Stroke. 2014 Apr;45(4):1123-1130. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.002970. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Extravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT), as a noninvasive imaging methodology with micrometer resolution, was evaluated in a murine model of carotid atherosclerosis by way of assessing the efficacy of pravastatin therapy.

Methods: An OCT device was engineered for extravascular plaque imaging. Wild-type mice and apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice were randomized to 3 treatment groups: (1) wild-type on a diet of standard rodent chow (n=13); (2) ApoE(-/-) on a high-fat, atherosclerotic diet (HFD; n=13); and (3) ApoE(-/-) on a HFD given daily pravastatin (n=13). Mice were anesthetized and the left common carotid was surgically exposed. Three-dimensional (3D; 2 spatial dimensions+time) and 4D (3 spatial dimensions+time) OCT images of the vessel lumen patency were evaluated. After perfusion, in situ OCT imaging was performed for statistical comparison with the in vivo results and final histology.

Results: Intraoperative OCT imaging positively identified carotid plaque in 100% of ApoE(-/-) mice on HFD. ApoE(-/-) mice on HFD had a significantly decreased lumen patency when compared with that in wild-type mice (P<0.001). Pravastatin therapy was found to increase lumen patency significantly in ApoE(-/-) mice on HFD (P<0.01; compared with ApoE(-/-) on HFD). The findings were confirmed with OCT imaging after perfusion and histology.

Conclusions: OCT imaging offers the potential for real-time, detailed vessel lumen evaluation, potentially improving surgical accuracy and outcomes during cerebrovascular neurosurgical procedures. Pravastatin significantly increases vessel lumen patency in the ApoE(-/-) mouse on HFD.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; imaging, medical; intracranial aneurysm; tomography, optical coherence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / pathology*
  • Carotid Stenosis / drug therapy
  • Carotid Stenosis / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Monitoring / methods*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Pravastatin / pharmacology*
  • Random Allocation
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pravastatin