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Implantation of a Carotid Cuff for Triggering Shear-stress Induced Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: January 13, 2012
Chronic stress accelerates atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E deficient mouse
Meena Kumari1, Cairistine Grahame-Clarke, Nola Shanks
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, International Centre for Health and Society, London, UK. m.kumari@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract:
Conventional cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure do not account fully for variation in coronary heart disease suggesting the involvement of additional mechanisms. We have examined the effects of a chronic psychological stress protocol on the development of atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse. We observed a 3-fold increase in staining for atheroma accompanied by a 10-fold increase in corticosterone concentrations in mice stressed for 12 weeks. These data suggest that chronic mild stress can induce or accelerate the development of atherosclerosis.
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