title: Coronary changes in the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L: characterization and impact of dietary fatty acid compositions.
abstract: Consumption of fatty acids from fishes is widely regarded as beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disorders. Nevertheless, salmonids themselves are victims of vascular diseases. As the pathogenesis and nature of these changes are elusive, they are here addressed using novel morphological and transcriptional approaches. Coronary arteries of wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., (n = 12) were investigated using histological and immunohistochemical techniques, and RT-qPCR was employed to investigate expression of stretch-induced genes. In an experimental trial, fish were fed diets with different fatty acids composition, and histological features of the coronary arteries (n = 36) were investigated. In addition, the heart fatty acid profile (n = 60) was analysed. There were no differences in morphological or immunological features between wild fish and groups of experimental fish. Arteriosclerotic lesions consisted of smooth muscle cells in dissimilar differential stages embedded in considerable amounts of extracellular matrix in a similar fashion to what is seen in early stages of human atherosclerosis. No fat accumulations were observed, and very few inflammatory cells were present. In affected arteries, there was an induction of stretch-related genes, pointing to a stress-related response. We suggest that salmon may have a natural resistance to developing atherosclerosis, which corresponds well with their high investment in lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalum
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tangen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hordvik
authors.affiliation: ARC Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosenlund
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torstensen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Koppang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000662:veterinary; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058426:Neointima / Q000473:pathology; D020317:Salmo salar; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: arteriosclerosis; early development; model organism; smooth muscle cells