小鼠动脉粥样硬化过程中血管壁的连接蛋白表达

The expression of connexins in process of atherosclerosis of ApoE-deficient mice

目的高脂饲料喂养ApoE-/-小鼠,构建动脉粥样硬化(AS)模型。观察在AS形成过程中,连接蛋白37(cx37)、cx40和cx43的表达情况。方法 8周龄apoE-/-小鼠(AS组)、野生型小鼠(control组)各40只,同时予高脂饲料喂养,分别在高脂喂养的第0、4、8、12周采集标本。HE染色鉴定AS模型,免疫组化检测小鼠胸主动脉cx37、cx40和cx43的表达情况。结果两组小鼠血管SMC的cx37均呈高表达,且AS组的cx37表达呈上升趋势较control组明显(组间两两比较,0周、4周vs.8周、12周,P均<0.05)。两组小鼠血管SMC的cx40呈稳定表达状态(P>0.05)。两组小鼠血管SMC均无法检测到cx43的表达。结论 cx37可能作为连接蛋白的代表在小鼠AS形成过程中具有重要的意义,值得我们去深入研究。

Objective To investigate the expression of connexins in process of atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein E-deficient （ApoE-/-） mice. Methods Eight-week-old male ApoE-/-mice and wild-type mice were used in the experiment. The animals were sacrificed for pathological observation at the time points of 0, 4, 8, 12 weeks after hyperlipidic diet, respectively. The aortas were prepared. HE and immunohistochemical staining were performed. All were analyzed with a computer image analysis system. Results Compared with the controls, as the age of ApoE-/- mice increasing, the expression of CX37 was markedly increased, the expression of CX40 stayed in a low level, and the expression of CX43 could not be detected in our experiment. Conclusion The connexin 37 participates in the process of atherosclerosis of ApoE deficient mice.