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Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
Published on: December 7, 2013
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Voluntary exercise decreases atherosclerosis in nephrectomised ApoE knockout mice
Cecilia M Shing1, Robert G Fassett2, Jonathan M Peake3
1School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Plos One
|March 24, 2015
Summary
Exercise significantly reduced aortic plaque area in mice with kidney disease, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nephrology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a primary cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.
- The impact of exercise on accelerated CVD in CKD is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of voluntary wheel running exercise on atherosclerosis.
- To assess exercise's impact on vascular function and systemic inflammation in a mouse model of combined kidney and cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Apolipoprotein E knockout mice underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (CKD model) or sham operation.
- Mice were assigned to voluntary wheel running or sedentary conditions for 12 weeks.
- Aortic plaque area, vascular function, and inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Exercising nephrectomized mice showed significantly reduced aortic plaque area compared to sedentary controls.
- A strong negative correlation was observed between running distance and plaque area in both nephrectomized and control mice.
- Nephrectomy increased IL-6 and TNF-α, but exercise did not significantly alter vascular function or other measured inflammatory markers.
Conclusions:
- Voluntary exercise effectively slowed cardiovascular disease progression in this mouse model of kidney disease.
- Exercise represents a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing comorbid CKD and CVD.
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