title: Expression of TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines in the choroid and sclera of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one New Zealand male albino rabbits were divided into two groups: NG and HG. The NG group was fed a standard rabbit diet and the HG group was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet (1%). The serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose levels were determined at the beginning of the experiment and on the day of euthanasia. Euthanasia of animals in the NG and HG groups was performed at the end of the 4th and 8th week, respectively. The eyes were analyzed immunohistochemically using TNF-α and IL-6 antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the time of euthanasia, the HG group showed a significant increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride when compared with the NG group (p<0.001). When compared with the NG group, there was a significant increase in the expression of TNF-α (p<0.001) and IL-6 (p=0.002) in the choroid and sclera of animals in the HG group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the hypercholesterolemic diet induces expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in the choroid and sclera of rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogil José de Almeida
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Centro Oftalmológico de Curitiba, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luchini
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Younes
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Barberini
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinicat, Hospital Angelina Caron, Campina Grande do Sul, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Precoma
authors.affiliation: Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Luzia de Almeida
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson Antonio de Almeida
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia de
authors.initials: Ld
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.affiliation: Universidade Evangélica, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Olandoski
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Erbano
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Marcelo Barbante
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dalton Bertolim
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Precoma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D002829:Choroid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values; D012590:Sclera / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A