Increased vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression and vessel remodeling in fructose-fed ApoE deficient mice

CANNIZZO, BEATRIZ; LUJAN, AGUSTIN; CRUZADO MONTSERRAT; CASTRO CLAUDIA

Ciudad de la Punta - San Luis

Congreso; XXVII Reunión Científica anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2009

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Adhesion molecules and vascular structural changes, known as “vascular remodeling”, are involved in the development of cardiovascular disease. ApoE-deficient mice (ApoE-/-) create an atherosclerotic model that mimics vascular lesions. Little is known on the effect of fructose intake in Apo-E deficiency on expression of adhesion molecules and vascular remodeling of these animals. In this study ApoE-/- mice were fed with 10% fructose in drinking water (FF-ApoE) over 6 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and morphometric studies of histological sections of aorta and mesenteric arteries were performed. Results show a significant increase in the expression of VCAM-1 in both aorta and mesenteric arteries of FF-ApoE mice. Compared with controls, aorta and mesenteric resistance arteries from fructose-treated mice show decreased in the lumen/media ratio. Chronic fructose administration appears to promote vascular adhesión molecule expression, the initial stages of an inflammatory reaction that may induce vascular remodeling.