Quick establishmet of ApoE-/- rats atherosclerosis model by high-fat diet combined with balloon injury / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To quickly establish the To quickly establish the atherosclerosis (AS) model in apoprotein E gene knockout (ApoE-/-) rats by short-term high-fat diet combined with balloon injury. Methods Eight-week-old male SD and ApoE-/- rats (10 each) were used in the experiments. After fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks, the blood routine, hepatorenal function, blood lipid profile and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured, and then all the left common carotid arteries were processed by balloon injury. After 2 weeks, rats euthanasia were carried out by excessive chloral hydrate, and then the operation side common carotid arteries were stained with HE, Masson trichrome and oil red O. While the common carotid arteries accepted CD68, α-SMA immunofluorescent staining. Results The blood lipid level was significantly higher in ApoE-/- rats than in SD rats [total cholestrol (TC) 18.56±2.82mmol/L vs 5.69±1.98mmol/L, P<0.01; low density lipoprotein (LDL) 6.86±1.47mmol/L vs 1.92±0.76mmol/L, P<0.01]. In the condition of serious blood lipid disorders, the ApoE-/- rats had been in a state of inflammation [CRP 4.66±0.57mg/L vs 0.39±0.21mg/L, P<0.05; white blood cell (21.79±5.10)×109/L vs (14.82±2.41)×109/L, P<0.01; neutrophil (9.28±3.35)×109/L vs (2.10±0.96)×109/L, P<0.01]. HE and Masson staining showed that obvious hyperplasia formed and collagen fibers deposited slightly in the two groups. Oil red O staining revealed the obvious hyperplastic plaques in ApoE-/- rats, but a negative result in SD rats. Immunofluorescence staining showed the significant positive CD68 and weak positive α-SMA in the plaque of ApoE-/- rats, while in SD rats the positive -SMA was pointed out with no CD68 coloration. Conclusion The atherosclerosis model of ApoE-/- rat may be quickly established by short-term high-fat diet combined with balloon injury.