title: Is there a role for reactive oxygen species in arterial medial elastocalcinosis?
abstract: Isolated systolic hypertension results from a gradual stiffening of large arteries, to which medial elastocalcinosis (calcification of elastic lamellae) contributes. There is compelling evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with several disease processes affecting the cardiovascular system, including hypertension. The present study was designed to investigate whether the inhibition of ROS production by alpha-lipoic acid can prevent vascular calcification. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with warfarin (20 mg/kg/day) and vitamin K (15 mg/kg/day) (WVK) for 4 weeks to induce large artery calcification. Subgroups received either a normal diet or a diet supplemented with lipoic acid (1000 mg/kg/day). The WVK treatment produced a small elevation of aortic superoxide levels that did not reach statistical significance. Alpha-lipoic acid reduced the elevation below baseline levels. In rats treated with alpha-lipoic acid, the WVK-induced elevation of pulse wave velocity (an index of arterial stiffness), left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic, femoral and carotid elastocalcinosis were not prevented. Although a contribution of oxidative stress has been suggested in the aging cardiovascular system, this alteration does not appear to contribute to the calcification process and the subsequent stiffening of large arteries in the animal model tested.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Moulay Zyad
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Lalaoui
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Midaoui
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Champlain
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000009:adverse effects; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin; D008063:Thioctic Acid