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

  Purpose: To establish a Wuzhishan mini-pig atherosclerosis (AS) model induced by high fat, and to observe the expression changes of lipoprotein-related phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in the plasma and plaques of the AS model.

  Method: 10 Wuzhishan miniature pigs were randomly divided into the normal control (Ctr) group, 4 were fed with normal feed, and the AS model (AS model) group was fed with high-fat feed, for 24 weeks of continuous modeling. At 24 weeks after modeling, the anterior vena cava blood was taken on an empty stomach to determine total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and C-reactive protein (CRP), changes in the activity and composition of Lp-PLA2, and take the aorta for Oil Red O staining, and take the abdominal aortic vessel for HE staining and IL-6 immunohistochemical staining to observe the vascular lipid deposition and plaque pathology and Changes in IL-6 protein expression. RT-PCR and Western Blot were used to observe the expression of Lp-PLA2mRNA 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 activities and components of the AS model group were significantly increased (P<0.05, P <0.01) At the same time, the aortic lipid deposition was obvious (P <0.01) and AS plaque was formed. The expression of Lp-PLA2 mRNA and protein and IL-6 protein expression in abdominal aorta tissue were significantly increased (P <0.05).

  Conclusion: Long-term high-fat diet for 24 weeks can induce AS in Wuzhishan miniature pigs, and Lp-PLA2 plays a key role in the involvement of vascular inflammation and AS plaque formation.