Accelerated enlargement of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms in a mouse model of chronic cigarette smoke exposure

Abstract

Short-term exposure to cigarette smoke did not alter initial development of experimental AAAs, but chronic smoke exposure was associated with a substantial increase in the late progression of aneurysmal dilatation. This novel combination of in vivo experimental models offers a new approach to investigate mechanisms by which cigarette smoking promotes aneurysmal degeneration.