Implication of Vitamin A deficiency on vascular injury related to inflammation and oxidative

GIMENEZ MS. GATICA LV OLIVEROS LB

Eur J Nutr.

Trainees

Año: 2012 p. 97 - 106

1436-6207

Eur J Nutr. 2011 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print] Implication of Vitamin A deficiency on vascular injury related to inflammation and oxidative stress. Effects on the ultrastructure of rat aorta. Gatica LV, Oliveros LB, Pérez Díaz MF, Domínguez NS, Fornes MW, Gimenez MS. Source Department of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Chacabuco 917, 5700, San Luis, Argentina. Abstract BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency induces activation of NF-kB and impairs activities of antioxidant enzymes in aorta. AIM OF THE STUDY: We study the effect of vitamin A deficiency on the aorta histoarchitecture and the possibly contribution of its prooxidant and inflammatory effects to artery alterations. METHODS: Twenty-one-day-old Wistar male rats were fed during 3 months with vitamin A-deficient diet (-A, n = 8) or the same diet containing 8 mg of retinol palmitate/kg of diet (+A, control, n = 8). In aortas, thiobarbituric reactive substances and reduced glutathione levels were measured by spectrophotometry. Expressions of TNF-alpha, NOX-2, VCAM-1, and TGF-beta1 were assessed by RT-PCR and Western Blot. The morphology of aorta was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: In -A rats, high levels of TBARS in serum and aorta and low levels of GSH in aorta were found. An increased expression of TNF-alpha, NOX-2, VCAM-1, and TGF-beta1 in aorta from -A rats was observed. Examination of the intimal layer by light microscopy indicated the presence of an irregular surface in -A aortas. TEM studies showed large vacuoles and multivesicular bodies along the endothelium and also multivesicular bodies in the subendothelial space of aortas from -A rats. Furthermore, the histological appearance of internal elastic lamina was different from control. Small vesicles in the medial layer were observed in aortas from vitamin A-deficient rats. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin A deficiency produces histoarchitectural alterations in aorta, which can be associated, at least in part, to the oxidative stress and inflammation induced by vitamin A deficiency.