Chronic Cadmium Exposure Accelerates the Development of Atherosclerosis and Induces Vascular Dysfunction in the Aorta of ApoE-/- Mice.

Chronic Cadmium Exposure Accelerates the Development of Atherosclerosis and Induces Vascular Dysfunction in the Aorta of ApoE-/- Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2018 Apr 29;: Authors: Oliveira TF, Batista PR, Leal MA, Campagnaro BP, Nogueira BV, Vassallo DV, Meyrelles SS, Padilha AS Abstract Cadmium exposure is related to cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, increased oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and specific biochemical changes induced by this metal. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether cadmium exposure induces endothelial dysfunction, accelerates atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta, and enhances oxidative stress in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice. Experiments were performed in 14-week-old male wild-type and ApoE-/- mice. ApoE-/- mice received cadmium (CdCl2 100 mg/L in drinking water for 28 days) or vehicle (distilled water). After treatment, vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside was analyzed using isolated aorta. Bone marrow cells were isolated to assess the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. ApoE-/- cadmium-treated mice had higher cholesterol levels than non-exposed mice. Cadmium exposure decreased the vasodilatation response to acetylcholine in aortic ring of ApoE-/- mice, though no changes in phenylephrine or sodium nitroprusside responses were observed. L-NAME reduced vasodilator responses to ac...
Source: Biological Trace Element Research - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Biol Trace Elem Res Source Type: research