| 1. |
- Bernberg, Evelina, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of social isolation and environmental enrichment on atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice
- 2008
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Ingår i: Stress. - 1607-8888 .- 1025-3890. ; 11:5, s. 381-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Social support and a stimulating environment have been suggested to reduce stress reactions and cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess the role of environmental enrichment and social interaction for development of atherosclerosis in atherosclerosis prone mice. Male ApoE-/- mice were divided into four groups and followed during 20 weeks: (i) enriched environment (E, n=12), (ii) deprived environment (ED, n=12), (iii) enriched environment with exercise (E-Ex, n=12) and (iv) socially deprived by individual housing (SD, n=10). Plasma lipid and cytokine concentrations were measured. Atherosclerosis was quantified in cross-sections of innominate artery and en face in thoracic aorta. Plaque area was significantly increased in SD mice in the innominate artery (P<0.05 vs. all other groups), but not in the thoracic aorta. Plasma lipids were increased in SD mice (P<0.001 vs. all for total cholesterol, P<0.05 vs. E and P<0.01 vs. ED for triglycerides). Plasma concentration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was decreased in SD mice compared to E mice (P<0.05). Thus, social isolation increased atherosclerosis and plasma lipids in ApoE-/- mice. Reduction in plasma G-CSF levels may hamper endothelial regeneration in the atherosclerotic process. While environmental enrichment did not affect atherosclerosis, social isolation accelerated atherosclerosis.
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| 2. |
- Johansson, Maria E, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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High-salt diet combined with elevated angiotensin II accelerates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of hypertension. - 0263-6352 .- 0263-6352. ; 27:1, s. 41-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: High-salt diet likely elevates blood pressure (BP), thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that a high-salt diet plays a critical role in subjects whose renin-angiotensin systems cannot adjust to variable salt intake, rendering them more susceptible to atherosclerosis. METHODS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice received standard or high-salt diet (8%) alone or in combination with fixed angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion (0.5 microg/kg per min). BP was measured using telemetry, and plaque burden was assessed in the thoracic aorta and innominate artery. We used urinary isoprostane as a marker for oxidative stress. RESULTS: Although high-salt diet per se did not affect plaque extension, high salt combined with Ang II increased plaque area significantly in both the aorta and the innominate artery as compared with Ang II or salt alone (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). High-salt diet did not affect BP or isoprostane levels, whereas Ang II infusion increased both BP and isoprostane levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Although high-salt diet combined with Ang II did not amplify BP, salt in combination with Ang II increased isoprostane levels further (P < 0.001 vs. Ang II alone). Ang II increases macrophage content in lesions (P < 0.05), whereas salt likely increases collagen content. CONCLUSION: High-salt diet per se does not influence BP in ApoE-/- mice and is only moderately atherogenic. Possibly mediated via increased oxidative stress, a high-salt diet combined with fixed high Ang II levels accelerates atherogenesis synergistically, beyond the effect of BP.
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