[Oxidative stress markers in atherogenesis induced by hyperfibrinogenemia]

We studied plasmatic TNF-alpha, nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline behaviors and probable morphological mitochondrial alterations in aortic smooth muscle cells, in rats with atherogenesis induced by hyperfibrinogenemia in: A) control, B) multiple injured for 30 days and C) multiple injured for 60 days.

Hyperfibrinogenemia induction: adrenaline injection (0,1 mg/rat/day). TNF-alpha (pg/dL) was determined by Elisa and NO (microM) and citrulline (mM) by spectrophotometry. Morphological mitochondrial alterations were studied by electronic microscopy. Variables were analized: ANOVA, r coefficient and chi2 test.

We observed a significant increment of TNF-alpha in multiple injured for 30 days (B) (50.05 +/- 2.29) as well as in multiple injured for 60 days (C) (74.99 +/- 2.82) related to control (A) (33.01 +/- 1.49) (p<0.001 in both groups). Citrulline presented a significant increased in (B) (5.56 +/- 0.20) and (C) (6.84 +/- 0.13) when compared to (A) (4.41 +/- 0.23) (p<0.001 in both situations). Mean while NO biodisponibility diminished significantly in (B) (8.97 +/- 0.70) and in (C) (5.32 +/- 0.68) when compared to (A) (21.65 +/- 1.74) (p<0.001 in both situations).

Hyperfibrinogenemia could modify the NO physiopathological pathway and produced morphological mitochondrial alterations in aortic smooth muscle cells, probably producing ischemic lesions in the vascular wall and altering the vasodilatation response.