Spontaneous elastic tissue lesions in the rat abdominal aorta, a genetically determined phenotype. J Vasc Res 2000;37(2):73-81
Date
04/08/2000Pubmed ID
10754392DOI
10.1159/000025718Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0034076217 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 8 CitationsAbstract
In this study, phenotypic expression of spontaneous elastic laminae defects within the rat abdominal aorta was examined. Lesions in Brown Norway (BN) rats were compared with those of New Zealand genetically hypertensive (GH) rats. BN and GH rats were cross-bred to determine the phenotypic expression of these lesions in successive F(1) and F(2) generations. Lesions were assessed by distribution, number and a semiquantitative index of severity. All BN aortae contained numerous elastic tissue defects. In comparison, GH aortae contained only occasional elastic tissue lesions. F(1) aortae contained lesions in numbers similar to those of the parental BN strain; however, F(1) lesions were of significantly greater severity. Within the F(2) generation, a wide range in both lesion numbers and severity indices was observed, with approximately a quarter of animals having lesion numbers analogous to the GH parental strain. In conclusion, this study indicates that the spontaneous elastic tissue lesions observed within BN rats are consistent with an autosomal dominant, possibly single gene, effect. Moreover, epistatic effects, derived from the GH strain, may influence the severity of these lesions. The gene(s) responsible may be important in the development of conditions such as arteriosclerosis and aneurysms in humans.
Author List
Jones GT, Harris EL, Jacob HJ, van Rij AMMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsAorta, Abdominal
Aortic Diseases
Elastic Tissue
Female
Male
Phenotype
Rats
Rats, Inbred BN
Rats, Inbred SHR
