American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 197, Issue 4 , Pages 416.e1-416.e5, October 2007

Characterization of a murine model of fetal programming of atherosclerosis

Presented at the 27th Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine, San Francisco, CA, Feb. 5-10, 2007.

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.

Received 12 March 2007; received in revised form 8 May 2007; accepted 2 August 2007.

Objective

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of fetal programming on the development of atherosclerosis in the offspring in a mouse model.

Study Design

Male and female mice of the wild type and the knockout for the apoprotein E (apoE) gene were cross-bred to obtain all 4 possible genetic offspring types. The offspring were kept on regular chow and killed at 8 months of age. Levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were determined. The aortic arch was examined for the presence and severity of atherosclerosis. Kidney and liver sections were analyzed for pathologic changes.

Results

We found increased total cholesterol levels and incidence of atherosclerosis in offspring born to hypercholesterolemic mothers as compared with genomically similar animals born to wild-type mothers. These animals also showed kidney and liver lesions consistent with chronic hypercholesterolemia.

Conclusions

There is a strong effect of fetal programming on the development of atherosclerosis in the apoE mouse model.

Key words: atherosclerosis, fetal development, fetal programming, hypercholesterolemia, mouse model

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 30.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 Reprints not available from the authors.

 Supported in part by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.

 Cite this article as: Goharkhay N, Sbrana E, Gamble PK, et al. Characterization of a murine model of fetal programming of atherosclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;197:416.e1-416.e5.

PII: S0002-9378(07)00968-4

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.08.002

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 197, Issue 4 , Pages 416.e1-416.e5, October 2007

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution