title: Mitochondrial morphofunctional alterations in smooth muscle cells of aorta in rats.
abstract: In an experimental model of atherogenesis induced by hyperfibrinogenemia (HF), the pharmacological response of vitamin E was studied in order to assess its antioxidant effect on the mitochondrial morphofunctional alterations in aortic smooth muscle cells. Three groups of male rats were used: (Ctr) control, (AI) atherogenesis induced for 120 days, and (AIE) atherogenesis induced for 120 days and treated with vitamin E. HF was induced by adrenalin injection (0.1 mg/day/rat) for 120 days. AIE group was treated with the administration of 3.42 mg/day/rat of vitamin E for 105 days after the first induction. Mitochondria morphology was analyzed by electronic microscopy (EM) and mitochondrial complexes (MC) by spectrophotometry. In group AI the total and mean number of mitochondria reduced significantly, the intermembranous matrix increased, and swelling was observed with respect to Ctr and AIE (P < 0.01). These damages were related to a significant decrease in the activity of citrate synthase and complexes I, II, III, and IV in group AI in comparison to Ctr (P < 0.001). Similar behavior was presented by group AI compared to AIE (P < 0.001). These results show that vitamin E produces a significative regression of inflammatory and oxidative stress process and it resolved the morphofunctional mitochondrial alterations in this experimental model of atherogenic disease.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud Humana (IICSHUM), Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina ; Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Del Carmen
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2529-6824
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Baez
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; Becaria Secyt, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarán
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Candelaria
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Llorens
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balceda
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María de La Paz
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Scribano
authors.affiliation: Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; Cátedra de Física Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina ; Los Médanos 3155, Alto Verde, 5009 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moya