Aortic atherosclerosis in normal and spontaneously diabetic Macaca nigra

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Endocrinology
• Primate Research

Background:

• Aortic atherosclerosis is a significant health concern.
• Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis.
• Macaca nigra offer a unique model due to their natural low-fat diet.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between aortic atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus severity in Macaca nigra.
• To quantify aortic atherosclerosis and compare it with metabolic and clinical parameters.
• To explore the role of age and serum cholesterol in atherosclerosis development in this species.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of aortic plaque and sudanophilia.
• Comparison of atherosclerosis extent with glucose tolerance tests, insulin levels, glucose, triglycerides, and a diabetic index.
• Assessment of the influence of age and serum cholesterol.

Main Results:

• Aortic atherosclerosis significantly correlated with increasing diabetes mellitus severity.
• Higher atherosclerosis correlated with impaired glucose tolerance, lower insulin, higher glucose, and higher triglycerides.
• Thoracic aorta involvement was threefold greater than abdominal, reaching over 40% in severely diabetic monkeys.
• Serum cholesterol did not correlate with diabetes or atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

• Diabetes mellitus severity is a primary driver of aortic atherosclerosis in Macaca nigra.
• Atherosclerosis development in these monkeys is diabetes-dependent, not linked to dietary fat/cholesterol or age alone.
• This study highlights the pronounced impact of diabetes on cardiovascular pathology in this primate model.