Tahergorabi Z, Rashidi B, Khazaei M. Ghrelin Does not Alter Aortic Intima-Media Thickness and Adipose Tissue Characteristics in Control and Obese Mice.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2013;
16:942-5. [PMID:
24106600 PMCID:
PMC3786108]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE(S)
Atherosclerosis is a chronic immune-inflammatory disease that generally leads to ischemic heart disease. Ghrelin has several modulatory effects on cardiovascular system. In this study, we investigated the effect of ghrelin on aortic intima-media thickness, size and the number of adipocyte cells in obese and control mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted on 24 male C57BL/6 mice. The animals were divided into four groups: control, obese (received high fat diet), control+ghrelin (injected with 100 µg/Kg subcutaneously, bid) and obese+ghrelin (n=6 each). After 10 days, animals were sacrificed and epididymal adipose tissue and thoracic aortae were removed. Adipocyte cell number, size and aortic intima-media thickness were evaluated.
RESULTS
Ghrelin did not change adipocyte cell number and size and aortic intima-media thickness in obese and control mice. In this study, high fat diet significantly decreased the number of adipocyte cells while increased their size (P<0.05). Ghrelin administration had no significant effect on adipocyte cell number and size in obese and control groups (P >0.05). In addition, it could not alter aortic intima-media thickness in both groups.
CONCLUSION
Although ghrelin has several cardiovascular effects, it seems that it could not alter the size and number of adipocyte cells and aortic intima-media thickness in diet-induced obese mice.
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