Enhanced coronary vasa vasorum neovascularization in experimental hypercholesterolemia

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Atherosclerosis Research
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Coronary arteries possess a vasa vasorum network within the adventitia.
• The three-dimensional (3D) structure of vasa vasorum in early coronary atherosclerosis remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To visualize and quantify the 3D spatial pattern of vasa vasorum in normal and hypercholesterolemic porcine coronary arteries.
• To investigate the role of vasa vasorum in early atherosclerotic remodeling.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a novel computed tomography technique for 3D imaging.
• Analyzed coronary arteries from pigs fed a high-cholesterol diet or control diet for 12 weeks.
• Quantified vasa vasorum density and spatial patterns, defining first-order (longitudinal) and second-order (circumferential) vessels.

Main Results:

• Hypercholesterolemic coronary arteries showed a significant increase in vessel wall area (8.07 vs. 3.86 mm²) compared to controls.
• Vasa vasorum density was markedly higher in hypercholesterolemic arteries (4.73 vs. 1.84/mm²).
• Increased density was primarily due to a rise in second-order vasa vasorum and a disorganized spatial pattern.

Conclusions:

• Experimental hypercholesterolemia induces adventitial neovascularization of vasa vasorum in coronary arteries.
• This neovascularization is associated with altered vessel wall structure and vasa vasorum spatial patterns.
• Vasa vasorum changes may represent an early component of atherosclerotic remodeling in coronary arteries.