title: Induction of systemic inflammation and thickening of subepicardiac arteries in an animal model of uremia.
abstract: Although renal dysfunction is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), there are few experimental studies investigating the cardiovascular consequences of this condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the impact of the induction of renal dysfunction on biomarkers of cardiovascular risk and on the histology of subepicardial vessels.
  
  
  METHODS
  This experimental study involved thirty Wistar male rats, which were divided into two groups. One (chronic kidney disease - CKD group) underwent renal ablation, and the other (SHAM group) was submitted to kidney manipulation only. Both groups were followed up for eight weeks. During follow-up, serum levels of urea, phosphorus and TNF-α were measured. Heart tissue was processed for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CKD group had increased levels of urea and phosphorus, in comparison with the SHAM group. The levels of TNF-α were increased in the CKD group and undetectable in the SHAM group (p < 0.05). Thickness of the middle layer of the subepicardial vessels of the CKD group was significantly higher than that of the SHAM group (p = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induction of renal dysfunction in rats increased the biomarkers of cardiovascular risk and led to a thickening of the subepicardial vessels when compared with normal controls.
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anthony Augusto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Bruno Gleizer da Silva
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Rigon
authors.forename: Michel Peter Barchik Salvatierra
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.forename: Aline Borsato
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Dalton
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Précoma
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bucharles
authors.forename: Lúcia de
authors.initials: Ld
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pécoits-Filho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*