Cardiac and vascular changes in elderly atherosclerotic mice: the influence of gender
Open Access
- 19 August 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Lipids in Health and Disease
- Vol. 9 (1), 87
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511x-9-87
Abstract
Background Although advanced age is considered a risk factor for several diseases, the impact of gender on age-associated cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerotic processes and valvular diseases, remains not completely clarified. The present study was designed to assess aortic valve morphology and function and vascular damage in elderly using the apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mouse. Our hypothesis was that advanced age-related cardiovascular changes are aggravated in atherosclerotic male mice. Methods The grade (0 to 4) of aortic regurgitation was evaluated through angiography. In addition, vascular lipid deposition and senescence were evaluated through histochemical analyses in aged male and female ApoE KO mice, and the results were compared to wild-type C57BL/6J (C57) mice. Results Aortic regurgitation was observed in 92% of the male ApoE KO mice and 100% of the male C57 mice. Comparatively, in age-matched female ApoE KO and C57 mice, aortic regurgitation was observed in a proportion of 58% and 53%, respectively. Histological analysis of the aorta showed an outward (positive) remodeling in ApoE KO mice (female: 1.86 ± 0.15; male: 1.89 ± 0.68) using C57 groups as reference values. Histochemical evaluation of the aorta showed lipid deposition and vascular senescence only in the ApoE KO group, which were more pronounced in male mice. Conclusion The data show that male gender contributes to the progression of aortic regurgitation and that hypercholesterolemia and male gender additively contribute to the occurrence of lipid deposition and vascular senescence in elderly mice.Keywords
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- Vascular Actions of Estrogens: Functional ImplicationsPharmacological Reviews, 2008
- OPTIMIZING DOSAGE OF KETAMINE AND XYLAZINE IN MURINE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHYClinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 2007
- O Treinamento físico por natação atenua o remodelamento miocárdico e congestão pulmonar em ratas wistar com insuficiência cardíaca secundária a infarto do miocárdioArquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 2006
- Evaluation of Vascular Function in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice With Angiotensin-Dependent Renovascular HypertensionHypertension, 2005
- Age-Associated Aortic Stenosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient MiceJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2005
- Remodelling of Coronary ArteriesEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2002
- Endocardial Myxomatous Change in Harlan Sprague-Dawley Rats (Hsd:S—D) and CD-1 Mice: Its Microscopic Resemblance to Drug-Induced Valvulopathy in HumansToxicologic Pathology, 2002
- Mouse Coronary Angiograph Using Synchrotron Radiation MicroangiographyCirculation, 2002
- Severe hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice created by homologous recombination in ES cellsCell, 1992
- Compensatory Enlargement of Human Atherosclerotic Coronary ArteriesNew England Journal of Medicine, 1987