Hydrocortisone rapidly induces aortic rupture in a genetically susceptible mouse
J. M. Reilly, E. B. Savage, C. M. Brophy and M. D. Tilson
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. 06510.
The Blotchy mouse has an X-linked trait that leads to aortic aneurysms and
subsequent fatal rupture in nearly all affected male mice. Heterozygous
female mice occasionally develop aneurysms, but they rarely rupture. Ten
heterozygous female mice received 0.45 mg/mL of hydrocortisone acetate in
drinking water. Within 2 weeks, 9 of 10 mice were dead (6 with proved
aortic rupture, 3 with presumed rupture). The 10th mouse was documented to
have an aortic aneurysm. A dose-response curve was generated.
Hydrocortisone's effect was shown to be dose-dependent. In another
experiment, normal female mice received 0.10 mg/mL of hydrocortisone
acetate for 14 days. Two mice developed aneurysms, and the others developed
aortic ectasia. These experiments establish the role of hydrocortisone in
the induction of aortic rupture in a mouse with genetic susceptibility and
the induction of aneurysms and ectasia in normal mice.
