Elastase-Induced Murine Model of AAA

8–12-week-old male C57BL/6 WT mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) were used for this study. A topical elastase treatment murine model of AAA formation was used and phenotype was evaluated on day 14, as previously described (28 (link)). The abdominal aorta was treated topically with 30 μl of type 1 porcine pancreatic elastase (5 U/mg of protein) on day 0, with/without administration of Panx1 inhibitor, spironolactone (1.5, 5, or 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) given from days 1 to 13. In a second model of chronic AAA which is associated with thrombus formation and aortic rupture, mice were treated with topical elastase and 0.2% β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) with/without spironolactone treatment and analyzed on day 28. The change in aortic diameter was quantified by video micrometry on days 14 or 28 and expressed as percentage increase over baseline aortic diameter. Aortic phenotype were measured by video micrometry using NIS-Elements D5.10.01 software attached to the microscope (Nikon SMZ-25; Nikon Instruments, Melville, NY). Percentage increase in aortic diameter was determined by [(maximal AAA diameter–self-control aortic diameter)/(self-control aortic diameter)] × 100, and aortic dilation of ≥100% was considered positive for AAA formation.