EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ON DISEASE AND LIFE-SPAN .2. VASCULAR-DISEASE, SERUM-CHOLESTEROL, SERUM THROMBOXANE, AND HEART-PRODUCED PROSTACYCLIN IN MRL MICE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 117  (1) , 125-131
Abstract
Mice of the autoimmune strain MRL/l, the congenic strain MRL/n, and 2 control strains, Balb/c and C57BL/6 mice, were fed diets which varied in the content of lipid and cholestrol. Serum cholesterol levels were highest in mice fed diets containing cholesterol and lowest in mice fed laboratory chow. Animals fed diets that increased serum cholestrol had decreased production of prostacyclin by vascular tissue and increased production of thromboxane A2 by platelets. Prostacyclin production by heart tissue in response to arachidonic acid showed a negative correlation (r = -0.86) with serum cholesterol. Serum thromboxane demonstrated a positive correlation (r = 0.70) with serum cholesterol. The prevalence of autoimmune vasculitis seen in MRL/lpr mice was not affected by diet. MRL/lpr mice fed a high-fat, cholesterol-containing diet had intimal vascular lesions containing foam cells typical of arteriosclerosis. Apparently, diets that raise serum cholesterol may influence the nature of autoimmune-mediated vascular disease by altering the balance between thromboxane and prostacyclin.