Abstract
Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a catastrophic disease with high mortality and morbidity, characterized by fragmentation of elastin and loss of smooth muscle cells. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms of this disease remain elusive because there are no appropriate animal models, limiting discovery of effective therapeutic strategies. We treated mice on C57BL/6 and FVB genetic backgrounds with β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate (BAPN), an irreversible inhibitor of lysyl oxidase, for 4 wk, followed by angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion for 24 h. We found that the BAPN plus Ang II treatment induced formation of aortic dissections in 100% of mice on both genetic backgrounds. BAPN without Ang II caused dissections in few FVB mice, but caused 87% of C57BL/6 mice to develop TAD, with 37% dying from rupture of the aortic dissection. Moreover, a lower dose of BAPN induced TAD formation and rupture earlier with fewer effects on body weight. Therefore, we have generated a reliable and convenient TAD model in C57BL/6 mice for studying the pathological process and exploring therapeutic targets of TAD.