Ultrastructural features of herpesvirus-induced aortic intima damage in mice fed the high-fat diet

The aim: To study the effect of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the structural changes in the aortic intima in intact and HSV-1-infected mice using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Materials and methods: In experiments Balb/c mice were infected with the HVS-1 and fed high-fat diet and 12 weeks later aortic ultrastructure was examined by SEM and TEM methods. The animals were subdivided into four experimental groups: 1st group - HSV-1-infected animals; 2nd - animals consuming high-fat diet (HFD); 3rd - infected animals that were subsequently consuming a high-fat diet (HSV / HFD); 4th - animals consuming a high-fat diet that were subsequently infected with HSV-1 (HFD / HSV) (n = 6); and control group - intact animals.

Results: HVS-1 impaired ultrastructural changes in aorta greater than high-fat diet and HVS-1 alone (higher density of lipid inclusions in the subendothelial space, necrosis of endothelial cells), and infection of mice after high-fat diet ended 100% mortality. The formation of atheroma in the aortic wall during HFD was not detected, but the initiative manifestations of atherogenesis have been identified and restricted in the aortic intima. These structural changes included lipid inclusions in the subendothelial space, cell damage and destruction, which lead to an increase cellular detritus in the 3rd (HSV / HFD) group.

Conclusions: HSV infection potentiates the accumulation of lipid inclusions in the aortic intima during a HFD, facilitates infection and contributes to the development of acute infection.