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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Rhythm changes of clock genes, apoptosis-related genes and atherosclerosis-related genes in apolipoprotein E knockout
1Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Shanghai Medical College, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Background:
Acute myocardial infarction and stroke occur more frequently in the morning, suggesting a role of the circadian clock in these main causes of death, secondary to atherosclerosis.
Objectives:
To investigate the expression of clock genes, apoptosis-related genes and atherosclerosis-related genes in the process of atherosclerosis.
Methods:
Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice were used to establish animal models of early and advanced atherosclerosis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and microarray assays were used to detect the expression of clock genes, apoptosis-related genes and atherosclerosis-related genes.
Results:
Clock genes in ApoE-/- and C57BL/6J mouse hearts exhibited daily oscillations at the messenger RNA level. However, the expression level and rhythm between ApoE-/- and C57BL/6J mice were significantly different. Moreover, the changes became more significant as atherosclerosis developed. c-Myc and p53 genes exhibited circadian expression in C57BL/6J mice at messenger RNA and protein levels. However, the rhythm in ApoE-/- mice disappeared completely. Bcl-2 and Bax did not show daily rhythm in either strain of mouse. Aside from apoptosis-related genes, several atherosclerosis-related genes expressed time-dependent behaviour in C57BL/6J mice but not in ApoE-/- mice.
Conclusions:
Rhythm changes of clock genes, apoptosis-related genes and atherosclerosis-related genes may play important roles in atherosclerosis and its complications.
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