【Animal Modeling】-High-fat-induced atherosclerosis model of Wuzhishan mini-pig

  OBJECTIVE: To establish a high-fat-induced atherosclerosis (AS) model and observe the expression changes of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in plasma and plaques.

  Method: Ten five-finger miniature pigs were randomly divided into a normal control group (Ctr), four were fed a normal diet, and the AS model group was fed a high-fat diet for 24 weeks. Twenty-four weeks after modeling, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were collected from fasting anterior aortic blood And C. The aorta was taken for reactive protein (CRP), Lp-PLA2 activity and composition changes and oil red O staining, and the abdominal aorta was taken for HE staining and IL-6 immunohistochemical staining, and blood lipids were observed. Changes in deposition and plaque pathology and IL-6 protein expression. We used RT-PCR and Western Blot to observe the expression of Lp-PLA2 mRNA and protein in the abdominal aorta.

  Results: Compared with the normal control group, the weight, body mass index (BMI), TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, CRP, Lp-PLA2 activity and composition of the AS model group increased significantly (P\u003c 0.05, P\u003c0 .01) At the same time, the aortic lipid deposition was obvious (P\u003c0.01) and AS plaques were formed. The expression of Lp-PLA2 mRNA, protein and IL-6 protein in abdominal aorta tissue were significantly increased. (P\u003c0.05).

  Conclusion: A 24-week long-term high-fat diet can induce AS in Gosashiyama miniature pigs. Lp-PLA2 plays an important role in vascular inflammation and AS plaque formation.