Characterization of arachidonic acid metabolism in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) and New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit aortas. Prostaglandins 1988 Oct;36(4):515-32
Date
10/01/1988Pubmed ID
3238004DOI
10.1016/0090-6980(88)90047-0Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0024267537 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 35 CitationsAbstract
WHHL rabbits develop progressive atherosclerosis. There are no visible signs of the disease at 1 month, however, by 12 months, the formation of aortic plaques is extensive. This study characterized arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in 1 and 12 month old WHHL and NZW rabbit aortas. Vessels incubated with 14C-AA and A23187 metabolized AA to a number of oxygenated products as identified by high pressure liquid chromatography. The major AA metabolites produced by WHHL and NZW aortas were 6-keto PGF1 alpha, PGE2, 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). The structures of the HETEs were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Indomethacin blocked the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) but not HETEs whereas ETYA, NDGA or removal of the endothelium attenuated the production of both PGs and HETEs. Measurement of 6-keto PGF1 alpha, 12- and 15-HETE by specific radioimmunoassays indicated that as the rabbits aged and as atherosclerosis progressed, aortas lost the ability to synthesize 6-keto PGF1 alpha and 15-HETE. Prior to the development of atherosclerosis, 1 month old WHHL aortas produced 70% less 15-HETE than did NZW aortas. Atherosclerotic aortas from 12 month old WHHLs synthesized 60% less 6-keto PGF1 alpha during stimulation with AA or A23187 than did 12 month old NZW aortas. We conclude that the development and expression of atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits impairs the ability of aortas to metabolize AA to both PGs and HETEs.
Author List
Pfister SL, Schmitz JM, Willerson JT, Campbell WBAuthors
William B. Campbell PhD Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinSandra L. Pfister PhD Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsAorta
Arachidonic Acids
Arteriosclerosis
Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids
Hyperlipidemias
Prostaglandins
Rabbits