M. Yaghoubi et al., Decreased sensitivity to nitric oxide in the aorta of severely hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, J CARDIO PH, 36(6), 2000, pp. 751-757
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
A normal response to nitric oxide donors has been cited as evidence that im
paired endothelium-dependent vasodilation during hypercholesterolemia is du
e to decreased synthesis of nitric oxide. This tenet was examined by determ
ining responses to nitric oxide gas as well as to acetylcholine and sodium
nitroprusside in the isolated aorta of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed
normal or Western-type cholesterol-rich diet until 21 or 35 weeks of age. I
n mice fed normal chow, relaxation to all agents remained comparable to tha
t obtained in wild-type mice. In mice fed Western diet, the relaxation to a
cetylcholine as well as to nitric oxide was decreased at 35 weeks of age. A
t 21 weeks of age, decreased sensitivity to nitric oxide was observed despi
te a normal response to acetylcholine. The response to sodium nitroprusside
was normal in all groups. A decrease in aortic superoxide dismutase activi
ty as well as an increase in aortic superoxide anion generated in the prese
nce of NADH as measured by lucigenin chemiluminescence was observed in the
group fed Western diet at 35 weeks. This provides evidence that altered sup
eroxide anion could contribute to the deterioration in nitric oxide sensiti
vity that underlies the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation. These da
ta indicate that decreased sensitivity to nitric oxide may contribute to th
e development of impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in hypercholeste
rolemia. The response to sodium nitroprusside appears not to reflect the de
creased sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to authentic nitric oxide.