Role of dietary supplementation of methionine and Folic acid in early atherosclerotic Changes in adult male mice | ||
| Bulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences | ||
| Article 6, Volume 27, Issue 1, June 2007, Pages 77-94 PDF (1.04 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/besps.2007.37117 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Marwa Ahmed* 1; Manal Sead2; Ola Omran3; Heba Said2 | ||
| 1Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University | ||
| 2Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University. | ||
| 3Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) is an important intermediate product in normal metabolism of methionine. On the other hand, several studies have reported beneficial effects of folate on endothelial dysfunction. However the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. Thus the objective of this study was to asses the relationship between total plasma Homocysteine (tHcy) and early atherosclerotic changes and whether Hcy exerts its effect through the vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) or not. Study Design: Forty adult male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, each group included 10 mice. Control group which received the control diet. Group II: which received the control diet plus methionine dissolved in drinking water (4.4%) at doses of 3-4 ml/day/mice for 8 weeks. Group III: received the control diet and methionine by the same previous dose and duration, concomitant with folic acid in a dose 1mg/kg. Group IV: received the control diet and methionine by the same previous dose and duration then followed by folic acid in the same previous dose for another 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken for estimation of tHcy ,total cholesterol (TC),High density lipoprotien (HDL),Low density lipoprotein (LDL), nitric oxide (NO) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) . Specimens from aorta were taken and processed for imunohistochemical staining of VCAM-1 and histopathological examination. Results: The plasma level of Hcy and cholesterol of group II were significantly higher than those of the remaining groups and there was a positive correlation between plasma level of Hcy and cholesterol. Although there was no significant difference between group I and group III ,there was a significant difference of these levels between group I and group IV. Plasma levels of LDL,HDL and triglycerides did not differ statistically between all studied groups. Plasma levels of NO in group II was significantly lower than the other studied group .Its levels in group I was significantly higher than that ofgroup III and group IV. Plasma levels of SOD of group II was significantly lower than the other studiedgroup. Although there was no significant difference between NO levels of group I and group III, there was a significant difference of these levels between group I and group IV. As regard the endothelial VCAM-1 expression, marked increase in the expression of VCAM-1 in group II. Low expression in group III (similar to the groupI). Moderate expression of group IV. The high expression of VCAM-1 in group II might be responsible for the observed histological changes; thickening of the aortic wall and adherent inflammatory cells to the irregular endothelial lining. Conclusion:Elevated plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for early atherosclerosis which was confirmed by the endothelial expression of VCAM-1. Prophylactic administration of folicacid has a beneficial effect more than its role as a treatment | ||
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