Atherosclerosis resistance in rats correlates with lack of expansion of an immature smooth muscle cell population

Journal of Vascular Research
B AmoreS Sartore

Abstract

In this study we asked whether the well-known atherosclerosis resistance of rats might be reduced with aging. Two groups of young, adult and aged Wistar rats, one of which was kept on a standard, low-cholesterol (CT) diet, and the other one was fed a 2% CT diet for 2 months were enrolled. Potential modifications in the phenotypic profile of aortic smooth muscle (SM) were assessed by SDS-gel electrophoresis, Western blotting and immunofluorescence procedures using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to myosin isoforms, cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins. With development and aging, the expression of 196-kD non-muscle-type myosin heavy-chain isoform (MyHC), the EIIIA fibronectin variant and keratins was downregulated, whereas that of the 204- and 200-kD SM-type MyHC isoforms, SM-type alpha-actin and desmin did not change. The levels of hypercholesterolemia achieved in this model did not substantially modify the distribution of the downregulated markers, except for the subendothelial grouping of immature SM cells in aged rats. Morphometric measurements indicated a slight increase of medial cross-sectional area accompanied by a decrease in total SM cell number, both with aging and with hypercholesterolemia. In no circumsta...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 15, 2000·Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology·A OrlandiL G Spagnoli
Jun 27, 2009·Virchows Archiv : an International Journal of Pathology·Sebastian StintzingDaniel Neureiter
May 18, 2011·Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis : an International Journal in Haemostasis and Thrombosis·Chifumi KinugasaJunichiro Yamamoto

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