ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the histopathological features, nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and IKB expressions as well as calcium deposition of atherosclerosis plaques (AS) in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice (ApoE(-/-), LDLR(-/-)fed high-fat diet.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight C57BL/6J mice fed with normal diet were used as control, 32 ApoE(-/-) mice and LDLR(-/-) mice were divided into normal diet and high-fat diet groups (n = 8 each). After 4 months, aorta was collected for morphologic (HE, Oil Red O, Von Kossa) and immunohistochemistry (nuclear factor-κB, IKB, macrophage surface molecule-3, α-smooth action protein) analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Degree of AS in ApoE(-/-) and LDLR(-/-) mice fed with high-fat diet were significantly severer than those fed with normal diet and AS was more significant in ApoE(-/-) mice than in LDLR(-/-) mice. NFκB and IKB expressions in high-fat diet group were significantly higher than the normal diet group (P < 0.05). Double-labeling of NFκB revealed dominant expression in smooth muscle cells. Calcium deposition was significantly more in ApoE(-/-) mice fed with high-fat diet than mice fed with normal diet (P < 0.05) and was similar in LDLR(-/-) mice fed with high and normal diet (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High-fat diet contributes to the formation of AS plagues in ApoE(-/-) and LDLR(-/-) mice joined by upregulated NFκB and IKB expressions and calcium deposition.</p>