Objective:To investigate a simple and reliable mothod to construction an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) model in rabbits.
Methods:Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned as experimental group (n=10) and control group (n=10). AAA model was induced by periarterial infiltration with of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in the experimental group and saline was substituted for CaCl2 in the control group. The dilation ratio, morphological and pathohistological changes of abdominal aorta of the two groups were observed at 6 weeks after operation.
Results: The dilation ratio of abdominal aorta was (124.12±8.11)% in the experimental group, which was statistically different from that of the control group (P＜0.01). The pathohistological examination of the abdominal aortas showed serious disruption of the elastic tissue and loss of smooth muscle cells in tunica media of aortic aneurysm in the experimental group.
Conclusions:The rabbit AAA model using periarterial  infiltration with CaCl2  is simple and easy to perform, and it provides an appropriate tool for  experimental therapeutic studies in AAA.