Hypercholesterolemia in pregnant mice increases the susceptibility to atherosclerosis in adult life

Abstract

To determine the effects of hypercholesterolemia in pregnant mice on the susceptibility to atherosclerosis in adult life through a new animal modeling approach. Male offspring from apoE-/- mice fed with regular (R) or high (H) cholesterol chow during pregnancy were randomly subjected to regular (Groups R-R and H-R, n = 10) or high cholesterol diet (Groups R-H and H-H, n = 10) for 14 weeks. Plasma lipid profiles were determined in all rats. The abdominal aorta was examined for the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in offspring. Lipids significantly increased while high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol/low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased in mothers fed high cholesterol chow after delivery compared with before pregnancy (p < 0.01). Groups R-H and H-R indicated dyslipidemia and significant atherosclerotic lesions. Group H-H demonstrated the highest lipids, lowest high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol/low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, highest incidence (90%), plaque area to luminal area ratio (0.78 ± 0.02) and intima to media ratio (1.57 ± 0.05). Hypercholesterolemia in pregnant mice may increase susceptibility to atherosclerosis in their adult offspring.