Early morphological changes in the endothelium of a peripheral artery of rabbits fed an atherogenic diet.
The effect of an atherogenic diet on the endothelium of the central artery of the rabbit ear was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Examination of the inner surface of the artery after only 5 weeks on the diet revealed morphological changes including irregularly shaped cells, breaks at intercellular junctions, swelling of the membrane over the central part of the cells, and occasional holes in the cells. By 9 weeks more severe damage was seen including lifting off of cells and some holes. In addition, arrays of dark spots were seen by scanning electron microscopy in some cells in arteries of rabbits fed the diet for 5 to 9 weeks. The dark spots may correspond to abnormally large vacuoles seen inside endothelial cells by transmission electron microscopy. The central ear artery and aorta of some rabbits were tested for their ability to convert arachidonic acid into prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 by radioimmunoassay of the stable metabolites 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2. The vessels from rabbits fed the atherogenic diet did not differ from vessels of rabbits on the control diet in their production of either metabolite.
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004423:Ear / Q000098:blood supply; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology
D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha