Dataset Information

Impact of a combined high cholesterol diet and high glucose environment on vasculature.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Vascular complications are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes. However, proper animal models of diabetic vasculopathy that recapitulate the accelerated progression of vascular lesions in human are unavailable. In the present study, we developed a zebrafish model of diabetic vascular complications and the methodology for quantifying vascular lesion formation real-time in the living diabetic zebrafish.

Methods and results

Wild type zebrafish (AB) and transgenic zebrafish lines of fli1:EGFP, lyz:EGFP, gata1:dsRed, double transgenic zebrafish of gata1:dsRed/fli1:EGFP were exposed to high cholesterol diet and 3% glucose (HCD-HG) for 10 days. The zebrafish model with HCD-HG treatment was characterized by significantly increased tissue levels of insulin, glucagon, glucose, total triglyceride and cholesterol. Confocal microscopic analysis further revealed that the diabetic larvae developed clearly thickened endothelial layers, distinct perivascular lipid depositions, substantial accumulations of inflammatory cells in the injured vasculature, and a decreased velocity of blood flow. Moreover, the vascular abnormalities were improved by the treatment of pioglitazone and metformin.

Conclusion

A combination of high cholesterol diet and high glucose exposure induces a rapid onset of vascular complications in zebrafish similar to the early atherosclerotic vascular injuries in mammalian diabetic models, suggesting that zebrafish may be used as a novel animal model for diabetic vasculopathy.

SUBMITTER: Wang Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3857185 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Impact of a combined high cholesterol diet and high glucose environment on vasculature.

Wang Zemin Z Mao Yun Y Cui Taixing T Tang Dongqi D Wang Xing Li XL

PloS one 20131209 12

<h4>Aims</h4>Vascular complications are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes. However, proper animal models of diabetic vasculopathy that recapitulate the accelerated progression of vascular lesions in human are unavailable. In the present study, we developed a zebrafish model of diabetic vascular complications and the methodology for quantifying vascular lesion formation real-time in the living diabetic zebrafish.<h4>Methods and results</h4>Wild type zebrafish ...[more]

PMID: 24349075

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundTestosterone deficiency is associated with increased serum cholesterol levels. However, how testosterone deficiency precisely affects cholesterol metabolism remains unclear. Therefore, in the current study, we examined the effect of testosterone deficiency on cholesterol metabolism and liver gene expression in pigs fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet.MethodsSexually mature male miniature pigs (6-7 months old) were randomly divided into 3 groups as follows: intact male pigs fed an HFC diet (IM+HFC), castrated male pigs fed an HFC diet (CM+HFC), and castrated pigs with testosterone replacement fed an HFC diet (CM+HFC+T). Serum testosterone levels and lipid profiles were measured, and gene expression levels associated with hepatic cholesterol metabolism were determined. Furthermore, total hepatic cholesterol contents and the activities of enzymes mediating hepatic cholesterol metabolism were measured.ResultsSerum testosterone levels were significantly decreased in CM+HFC pigs, and testosterone replacement attenuated castration-induced testosterone deficiency. Castration significantly increased the serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as hepatic lipid contents in pigs fed an HFC diet. Compared with IM+HFC and CM+HFC+T pigs, low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mRNA expression and protein levels were significantly decreased in the livers of CM+HFC pigs. In contrast, we found that compared with IM+HFC pigs, hepatic proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) mRNA and serum PCSK9 protein levels were significantly increased in CM+HFC pigs. Moreover, testosterone treatment reversed the increase in PCSK9 expression in CM+HFC pigs. However, neither castration nor testosterone replacement affected the expression of the other hepatic genes that were tested.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that castration-induced testosterone deficiency caused severe hypercholesterolemia in pigs fed an HFC diet; furthermore, these effects could be reversed by testosterone replacement therapy. Altered hepatic PCSK9 and LDLR expression, resulting in reduced LDL-cholesterol clearance, may contribute to the increased serum cholesterol levels induced by testosterone deficiency and an HFC diet. These results deepen our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms that mediate the effects of testosterone deficiency on cholesterol metabolism.

Dataset Information

Impact of a combined high cholesterol diet and high glucose environment on vasculature.

Aims

Methods and results

Conclusion

Publications

Impact of a combined high cholesterol diet and high glucose environment on vasculature.

Similar Datasets

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