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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
06:59
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Hypercholesterolemia magnitude increases sympathetic modulation and coagulation in LDLr knockout mice
Juliano S Evangelho1, Karina Rabello Casali, Cristina Campos
1Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical
|August 20, 2010
Summary
Low lipoprotein receptor deficiency significantly elevates cholesterol, reduces heart rate variability, and impairs baroreflex sensitivity. High cholesterol also increases coagulation and cardiac sympathetic modulation, highlighting cholesterol
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Autonomic Nervous System Function
Background:
- Lipoprotein receptors play a crucial role in cholesterol metabolism.
- Dysregulation of cholesterol levels is linked to cardiovascular disease.
- Autonomic nervous system and hemostatic factors are implicated in cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of lipoprotein receptor deficiency on cholesterol levels, blood pressure, hemostatic factors, and autonomic nervous system activity.
- To compare the effects of standard versus hypercholesterolemic diets in lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice.
- To elucidate the relationship between plasma cholesterol magnitude and coagulation/sympathetic modulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three groups of mice: control (CO), lipoprotein receptor-deficient on standard diet (LDLr-S), and lipoprotein receptor-deficient on hypercholesterolemic diet (LDLr-H).
- Assessed blood cholesterol concentrations, blood pressure, and hemostatic factors (fibrinogen, factors VII and XII).
- Analyzed heart rate and blood pressure variability using frequency domain analysis and symbolic analysis; estimated spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS).
Main Results:
- Lipoprotein receptor deficiency significantly increased blood cholesterol in LDLr-S and LDLr-H groups compared to controls.
- Receptor deficiency led to reduced heart rate variability and significantly lower BRS in both LDLr-S and LDLr-H groups.
- Hypercholesterolemic diet further increased cardiac sympathetic modulation, which correlated with coagulation factor VII.
- Elevated plasma cholesterol was associated with increased plasmatic fibrinogen and hemostatic factors VII and XII.
Conclusions:
- Plasmatic cholesterol magnitude is a key determinant in increasing coagulation and sympathetic modulation.
- Lipoprotein receptor deficiency profoundly affects cardiovascular autonomic control and hemostasis.
- Dietary interventions that manage cholesterol levels are crucial for mitigating these adverse effects.
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