Red blood cells (RBCs) play a role in the regulation of vascular tone via release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into the vasculature in response to various stimuli. Interestingly, ApoE/LDLR double-deficient (ApoE/LDLR) mice, a murine model of atherosclerosis, display a higher exercise capacity compared to the age-matched controls. However, it is not known whether increased exercise capacity in ApoE/LDLR mice is linked to the altered ATP release from RBCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFoods enriched with insects can potentially prevent several health disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, by reducing inflammation and improving antioxidant status. In this study, and were selected to determine the effect on the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE/LDLR mice. Animals were fed AIN-93G-based diets (control) with 10% (TM) and 10% (GA) for 8 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate and confirm the properties of eggs produced by laying hens fed a diet consisting of pomegranate seed oil as a source of CLnA and flaxseed oil as a source of α-linolenic acid. The study involved determining the chemical composition of the eggs, including their fatty acid profile. The results showed that modifying the laying hens' feed composition resulted in eggs with high nutritional value, with a favorable change in their fatty acid profile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) (-9,-11,-13; punicic acid) compared to linolenic acid (LnA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (-9,-11) in apoE/LDLR mice. In the LONG experiment, 10-week old mice were fed for the 18 weeks. In the SHORT experiment, 18-week old mice were fed for the 10 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc
January 2023
In the present study, we characterized the secondary structure alterations of intact red blood cells (RBCs) cytosol with special attention to the sex-related alterations in 8- and 24-week-old female and male ApoE/LDLR mice, compared to age-matched female and male C57BL/6J control animals. Results were obtained with previously established methodology based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR). Additionally, we evaluated 2,3-DPG levels in the RBCs and showed its potential link to the hemoglobin (Hb) secondary structure alterations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study for the first time, we investigated the correlation between sex-specific differences in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in red blood cells (RBCs) and their mechanical, biochemical, and morphological alterations during the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE/LDLR double-deficient (ApoE/LDLR) mice. Our results indicate that both sex and age affect alterations in RBCs of both ApoE/LDLR and C57BL/6J mice. When compared with male RBCs, female RBCs were characterized by lower basal ATP and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), higher hemoglobin concentration (HGB), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), deformability, and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure levels, regardless of age in both, ApoE/LDLR and C57BL/6J mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis
December 2020
In this work we applied a multimodal approach to define the age- and atherosclerosis-related biochemical and functional alterations in red blood cells (RBCs) in ApoE/LDLR mice. Our results revealed that age-related changes in RBCs, such as decreases in RBC deformability and mean height, were more pronounced in ApoE/LDLR mice than in age-matched control mice (C57BL/6J). The decreases in phospholipid content and level of lipid unsaturation were accompanied by an increase in cholesterol esters and esterified lipids in RBC membranes in aged C57BL/6J mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough, vitamin K displays vasoprotective effects, it is still not known whether K treatment improves endothelial function. In ApoE/LDLR mice at the stage prior to atherosclerosis development, four-week treatment with K-MK-7, given at a low dose (0.05 mg/kg), improved acetylcholine- and flow-induced, endothelium-dependent vasodilation in aorta or in femoral artery, as assessed by MRI in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nutritional recommendations emphasize the need to limit consumption of saturated fatty acids and to increase the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Among the fatty acids with health-related effects on the body, conjugated fatty acids are mentioned (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Caloric restriction (CR) leads to decrease metabolic intensity, which results in a reduction of oxygen consumption and the amount of free radicals. This can affect the function of the liver. Studies show that caloric restriction does not alter or significantly increase the enzyme activity associated with gluconeogenesis, but the effect was different according to the age of the model animals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of the study was to determine the effects of pomegranate seed oil, used as a source of punicic acid (CLnA) in the diets of laying hens, on the physicochemical properties of eggs. Forty Isa Brown laying hens (26weeks old) were equally subjected to 4 dietary treatments (n=10) and fed a commercial layer diet supplying 2.5% sunflower oil (control) or three levels (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cholesterol-dependent and independent mechanisms were proposed to explain anti-atherosclerotic action of statins in humans. However, their effects in murine models of atherosclerosis have not been consistently demonstrated. Here, we studied the effects of pravastatin on atherosclerosis in ApoE/LDLR mice fed a control and atherogenic diet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study assessed the effects of individual conjugated linoleic acid isomers, c9t11-CLA and t10c12-CLA, on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and systemic endothelial dysfunction in rats fed for four weeks with control or high-fructose diet. The high-fructose diet hampered body weight gain (without influencing food intake), increased liver weight and glycogen storage in hepatocytes, upregulated expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and increased saturated fatty acid (SFA) content in the liver. Both CLA isomers prevented excessive accumulation of glycogen in the liver.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn terms of stereochemistry, catechins are divided into two groups: (-) epi forms (2R, 3R) and (-) forms (2S, 3R). Most of the catechins present in green tea are (-) epi forms (2R, 3R). Under the influence of high temperatures, in anaerobic conditions, as a result of epimerization the proportion of the (-) form (2S, 3R) increases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to compare effects of Western diet (WD) with low carbohydrate high protein (LCHP) diet on lipid metabolism, liver and kidney function in rats. Eighteen rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and fed for the next 2 months. The experimental diets were: Control (7% of soybean oil, 20% protein), WD (21% of butter, 20% protein), and LCHP (21% of butter and 52.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough in apoE/LDLR(-/-) mice atherosclerotic plaques develop spontaneously, various atherogenic diets (e.g. Western diet) are frequently used to accelerate the disease in this model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProstaglandins Other Lipid Mediat
August 2012
Adequate endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO), endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), and prostacyclin (PGI₂) is critical to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. However, it is not clear whether alterations in each of these vasodilatory pathways contribute to the impaired endothelial function in murine atherosclerosis. In the present study, we analyze the alterations in NO-, EDHF- and PGI₂-dependent endothelial function in the thoracic aorta in relation to the development of atherosclerotic plaques in apoE/LDLR⁻/⁻ mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate potential anti-atherogenic properties of hen eggs enriched naturally with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers (cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12). Eighteen apoE and LDL receptor double-knockout mice (apoE/LDLR- / - ), at the age of 4 months with pre-established atherosclerosis, were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n 6) and fed AIN-93G-based diets for the next 2 months. The experimental diets were: AIN-93G+ CLA-free egg-yolk powder (control); AIN-93G+ CLA-free egg-yolk powder +0.
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