Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Induction of Atherosclerotic Plaques Through Activation of Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice
Published on: September 26, 2018
Thymoquinone reduces cardiac damage caused by hypercholesterolemia in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice
Jingyi Xu1, Liyue Zhu2, Hongyang Liu3
1Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, No. 6 Jiefang Street, Dalian, China.
Background:
Hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiac damage, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have shown that thymoquinone protected rats from doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and cardiac damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of thymoquinone against cardiac damage in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice.
Methods:
Eight-week-old male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group fed a normal diet (ND group), a high cholesterol diet (HD group) or HD mixed with thymoquinone (HD + TQ group). All groups were fed the different diets for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava and collected in serum tubes. The samples were then stored at - 80 °C until used. Coronal sections of heart tissues were fixed in 10% formalin and then embedded in paraffin for histological evaluation. The remainder of the heart tissues was snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for mRNA or immunohistochemical analysis.
Results:
The metabolic characteristics of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were lower in ApoE-/-HD + TQ mice than in ApoE-/- HD mice. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) gene and protein expression was lower in the heart tissue of ApoE-/-HD + TQ mice than in those of ApoE-/-HD mice. Furthermore, the levels of macrophages and pro-inflammatory cytokines were lower in the cardiac tissues of ApoE-/-HD + TQ mice than in those of ApoE-/-HD mice.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that thymoquinone may provide a potential therapeutic target for cardiac damage caused by hypercholesterolemia.
Related Concept Videos
Reducing Line Loss
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...
Methods of reducing fever
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Cardiac Output II: Effect of Stroke Volume on Cardiac Output
Preload
Preload refers to the initial elongation of the cardiac myocytes before contraction and is related to the volume of blood filling the heart at the end of diastole, or end-diastolic volume. The...
Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

