Schreurs BG, Smith-Bell CA, Lemieux SK. Dietary cholesterol increases ventricular volume and narrows cerebrovascular diameter in a rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease.
Neuroscience 2013;
254:61-9. [PMID:
24045100 PMCID:
PMC3830722 DOI:
10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.09.015]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Using structural magnetic resonance imaging in a clinical scanner at 3.0T, we describe results showing that following 12weeks on a diet of 2% cholesterol, rabbits experience a significant increase in the volume of the third ventricle compared to rabbits on a diet of 0% cholesterol. Using time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, we find cholesterol-fed rabbits also experience a decrease in the diameter of a number of cerebral blood vessels including the basilar, posterior communicating, and internal carotid arteries. Taken together, these data confirm that, despite the inability of dietary cholesterol to cross the blood-brain barrier, it does significantly enlarge ventricular volume and decrease cerebrovascular diameter in the rabbit - effects that are also seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
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