Cardiac and vascular changes in elderly atherosclerotic mice: the influence of gender.
BACKGROUND
Although advanced age is considered a risk factor for several diseases, the impact of gender on age-associated cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerotic processes and valvular diseases, remains not completely clarified. The present study was designed to assess aortic valve morphology and function and vascular damage in elderly using the apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mouse. Our hypothesis was that advanced age-related cardiovascular changes are aggravated in atherosclerotic male mice.


METHODS
The grade (0 to 4) of aortic regurgitation was evaluated through angiography. In addition, vascular lipid deposition and senescence were evaluated through histochemical analyses in aged male and female ApoE KO mice, and the results were compared to wild-type C57BL/6J (C57) mice.


RESULTS
Aortic regurgitation was observed in 92% of the male ApoE KO mice and 100% of the male C57 mice. Comparatively, in age-matched female ApoE KO and C57 mice, aortic regurgitation was observed in a proportion of 58% and 53%, respectively. Histological analysis of the aorta showed an outward (positive) remodeling in ApoE KO mice (female: 1.86 ± 0.15; male: 1.89 ± 0.68) using C57 groups as reference values. Histochemical evaluation of the aorta showed lipid deposition and vascular senescence only in the ApoE KO group, which were more pronounced in male mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The data show that male gender contributes to the progression of aortic regurgitation and that hypercholesterolemia and male gender additively contribute to the occurrence of lipid deposition and vascular senescence in elderly mice.
Pereira
Thiago M C
TM
Laboratory of Transgenes and Cardiovascular Control, Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of EspÃrito Santo, Av. Marechal Campos 1468, Vitoria, ES 29043-900, Brazil.
Nogueira
Breno V
BV
Lima
Leandro C F
LC
Porto
Marcella L
ML
Arruda
Jose A
JA
Vasquez
Elisardo C
EC
Meyrelles
Silvana S
SS
D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000792:Angiography; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D001057:Apolipoproteins E