title: Emu oil decreases atherogenic plaque formation in cafeteria diet-induced obese rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis-induced coronary heart disease - caused by elevated levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and inflammation - is one of the most prevalent diseases. Monounsaturated fatty acids are reported to prevent atherosclerosis; emu oil is a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acid, and we hypothesize that emu oil supplementation could lower inflammation and prevent atherosclerosis in diet-induced obese (DIO) animals. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6), and fed with normal diet (chow pellet; ND), or with cafeteria diet (CD), or with CD along with emu oil supplementation at three different doses: ED1 (2 mL), ED2 (4 mL) and ED3 (8 mL) kg(-1) body weight (BW), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and serum was analysed for measuring lipid profile, C-reactive proteins, testosterone and luteinizing hormone. Histopathological studies were performed to observe atherogenic changes in thoracic aorta. Restoration of altered lipid and hormonal profiles, and inhibition of atherogenic changes in thoracic aorta, were observed with supplementation of emu oil, confirming its anti-atherosclerotic activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high content of oleic acid in emu oil could have orchestrated - either solely or in combination with linoleic and linolenic acids - causing the upregulation of testosterone biosynthesis and inhibition of atheromatous plaque formation in diet-induced obese animals. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Bishop Heber College, Puthur, Tiruchirappalli 620017, India.
authors.forename: Soundararajan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamalakkannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Tirupathi Pichiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Seenivasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalaiselvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Sankarganesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arunachalam
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achiraman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000191:economics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007194:India; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009821:Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D009821:Oils; D019301:Oleic Acid; C575034:emu Oil; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive proteins (CRP); atherosclerosis; diet-induced obesity (DIO); emu oil; oleic acid; testosterone