REMODELING OF THE BLOOD VESSEL PLEXUS OF THE CEREBELLUM AND FOURTH VENTRICLE OF CEREBRUM IN RATS DEPENDING ON THE DIET

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the characteristics of remodeling of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle and the angioarchitecture of cerebellum in rats being exclusively on high-protein and high-fat diets.
 Materials and Methods. The study was conducted on white male rats weighing 200–250 g. The first group (n=5) consisted of intact rats kept on a standard food; the second group (n=5) included animals kept on a high-fat diet; the third group (n=5) enrolled rats being on a high-protein diet. Remodeling of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle of cerebrum and angioarchitecture of the cerebellum was assessed on the 15th and 30th days of the experiment. Circulatory bed and structural changes were assessed on histologic specimen (hematoxylin-eosin and van Gieson's stain). The content of cholesterol, glucose, total protein and albumin was determined in blood serum. SPSS 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. The significance of differences was determined by Student's test at p<0.05.
 Results. Rats kept on an exclusively high-fat diet demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) increase in the levels of total cholesterol, glucose and albumin in the blood serum compared to the control group. In animals being on an exclusively high-protein diet, the level of total serum protein increased by 69 % (p<0.05), albumin – by 46 % (p<0.05). High-fat diet led to the spasm of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle, thickening of the basement membrane of the villi capillaries, clearing of the cytoplasm with subsequent disruption of the capillary wall integrity and hemorrhage. In the cerebellum, the plethora of arteries and veins was observed; in the molecular layer, the concentration of basket and stellate cells decreased. High-protein diet led to hyperemia of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle and the vessels of the cerebellar cortex without vascular and tissue disorders.
 Conclusion. High-fat diet led to remodeling of the basement membrane, clearing of the cytoplasm, nuclei swelling, capillary wall spasm of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle, and chromatolysis of the Purkinje cell nuclei. High-protein diet was characterized by hyperemia of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle and cerebellum, and by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of Purkinje cells. High-fat diet caused more pronounced remodeling of the blood vessel plexus of the fourth ventricle of cerebrum and the cerebellar cortex compared to a high-protein diet.