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[Non-atherosclerotic aorta in Cynomolgus after a hypercholesterolemic regimen]
H Bouissou1, M T Pieraggi, J C Thiers
1Groupe de recherche sur la paroi vasculaire, Service d'anatomie pathologique CHU Rangueil, Toulouse.
Bulletin De L'Academie Nationale De Medecine
|June 1, 1992
Summary
This study on cynomolgus macaques reveals that high-fat diets induce aortic lesions, with some animals showing early, persistent responses possibly due to genetic factors influencing smooth muscle cells.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Primate Models in Atherosclerosis Research
- Dietary Impact on Vascular Health
Context:
- Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular disease.
- Understanding lesion development in non-human primates provides insights into human disease.
- High-fat diets (HFD) are known risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Purpose:
- To investigate the development and regression of aortic lesions in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca Fascicularis) fed a high-fat diet.
- To differentiate between diet-induced and potentially genetically influenced vascular responses.
- To analyze aortic tissue at various time points (6, 12, 24 months) including periods of diet regression and resumption.
Summary:
- At 6 months, distinct aortic responses were observed, including edema, foam cell accumulation, and varying synthetic smooth muscle cell (SSMC) activity with collagen and elastin production.
- By 12-24 months, two lesion types emerged: pronounced atheroma and non-atheromatous changes characterized by fibrosis, elastogenesis, SSMC proliferation, and minimal lipid deposits.
- The study highlights that SSMC responses are influenced by both environmental (diet) and potential genetic factors, as evidenced by consistent fibro-elastic responses in some macaques despite uniform lipidic stress.
Impact:
- Provides a detailed timeline of diet-induced aortic lesion development and regression in a primate model.
- Suggests a potential role for genetic predisposition in modulating the response to dietary lipid stress.
- Informs future research on atherosclerosis prevention and treatment strategies, particularly concerning individual variability in disease susceptibility.