title: Effect of flaxseed on choroid-sclera complex thickness and on LDL oxidation in the sclera, choroid and retina of diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rabbits.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of flaxseed on choroid-sclera complex thickness and on LDL oxidation in the sclera, choroid and retina of diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. New Zealand male albino rabbits (n 21) were divided into two groups: group 1 (G1; n 11), fed a hypercholesterolaemic diet, and group 2 (G2; n 10), fed a hypercholesterolaemic diet enriched with flaxseed flour. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol, TAG and fasting blood glucose were determined at the start of the experiment and on the day of killing (8th week). Choroid and sclera samples were subjected to haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses with the anti-oxidised LDL antibody. Sensory retina samples were subjected to an immunohistochemical analysis with the primary monoclonal nitrotyrosine antibody. At the end of the experiment, a significant increase was observed in TC and LDL-C concentrations in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P= 0·008 and P= 0·02, respectively). HE staining revealed a significant increase in choroid-sclera complex thickness in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P< 0·001). Immunohistochemical analysis of choroid and sclera samples with the anti-oxidised LDL marker revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P< 0·001). Immunohistochemical analysis of sensory retina samples with the anti-nitrotyrosine marker revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P= 0·002). Flaxseed reduced the choroid-sclera complex thickness of diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rabbits and the expression of oxidised LDL in the choroid-sclera complex as well as the expression of nitrotyrosine in the sensory retina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Opthalmology,Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Rua Emiliano Perneta 390, Conj 1407,CEP 80420-080,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogil José de Almeida
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Centro Oftalmologico de Curitiba,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luchini
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro Soares
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Both
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic, Hospital Angelina Caron, Campina Grande do Sul,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Brandao
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Precoma
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Flavia
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Champoski
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Maynara Leonardi
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan Pedro de Almeida
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology,Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardo Molinari
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Olhos do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Antonio de Almeida
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Nicole Francesca de França
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Serci
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Programs in Health Sciences and in Surgery, Department of Cardiology,Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana,Curitiba,Parana,Brazil.
authors.forename: Dalton Bertolim
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Precoma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002829:Choroid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D004032:Diet; D019597:Flax; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry*; D012590:Sclera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine