Injury to the tunica media initiates atherogenesis in the presence of hyperlipidemia.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Fatty streaks initiating the formation of atheromatous plaque appear in the tunica intima. The tunica media is not known to be a nidus for lipid accumulation initiating atherogenesis. We assessed changes to the tunica media in response to a micro-injury produced in the pig aorta. In addition, we assessed human carotid endarterectomy plaques for indication of atheroma initiation in the tunica media.

Methods

Three healthy landrace female pigs underwent laparotomy to inject autologous blood and create micro-hematomas at 6 sites within the tunica media of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. These pigs were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4-12 weeks. Post-mortem aortas from all pigs, including a control group of healthy pigs, were serially stained to detect lipid de

SUBMITTER: Belhoul-Fakir H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10098105 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature