Spontaneous elastic tissue lesions in the rat abdominal aorta, a genetically determined phenotype

In this study, phenotypic expression of spontaneous elastic laminae defects within the rat abdominal aorta was examined. Lesions in Brown Norway (BN) rats were compared with those of New Zealand genetically hypertensive (GH) rats. BN and GH rats were cross-bred to determine the phenotypic expression of these lesions in successive F-1 and F-2 generations. Lesions were asses sed by distribution, number and a semiquantitative index of severity. All B N aortae contained numerous elastic tissue defects. In comparison, GH aorta e contained only occasional elastic tissue lesions. F-1 aortae contained le sions in numbers similar to those of the parental BN strain; however, F-1 l esions were of significantly greater severity. Within the F-2 generation, a wide range in both lesion numbers and severity indices was observed, with approximately a quarter of animals having lesion numbers analogous to the G H parental strain. In conclusion, this study indicates that the spontaneous elastic tissue lesions observed within BN rats are consistent with an auto somal dominant, possibly single gene, effect. Moreover, epistatic effects, derived from the GH strain, may influence the severity of these lesions. Th e gene(s) responsible may be important in the development of conditions suc h as arteriosclerosis and aneurysms in humans. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.