© 2001 by European Society of Cardiology
Copyright © 2000, European Society of Cardiology
Coronary vasa vasorum neovascularization precedes epicardial endothelial dysfunction in experimental hypercholesterolemia
aDivision of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
bDivision of Hypertension, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
cDepartment of Physiology and Biophysics, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-507-255-4152; fax: +1-507-255-2550 lerman.amir{at}mayo.edu
Objective: Experimental hypercholesterolemia is associated with vasa vasorum neovascularization, unknown to occur before or after initial lesion formation. Thus, this study was performed to determine the temporal course of neovascularization of coronary vasa vasorum in relation to endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of early atherosclerosis. Methods: Female domestic pigs were fed a normal diet (Group 1), a hypercholesterolemic diet for 2 and 4 weeks (Group 2), or a hypercholesterolemic diet for 6 and 12 weeks (Group 3). In vitro analysis of relaxation response to bradykinin served as an index for epicardial endothelial function. Spatial pattern and density of coronary vasa vasorum were assessed by three-dimensional microscopic computed tomography. Results: Relaxation response of coronary arteries to bradykinin was normal in both Group 1 (93±6%) and Group 2 (89±7%) but impaired in Group 3 (71±11%; P<0.05 vs. Group 1 and 2). In contrast, density of coronary vasa vasorum was significantly higher in both Group 2 (4.88±2.45 per-mm2) and Group 3 (4.50±1.37 per-mm2) compared to Group 1 (2.97±1.37 per-mm2; P<0.05 vs. Group 2 and 3). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that coronary vasa vasorum neovascularization occurs within the first weeks of experimental hypercholesterolemia and prior to the development of endothelial dysfunction of the host vessel, suggesting a role for vasa vasorum neovascularization in the initial stage of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
KEYWORDS Angiogenesis; Atherosclerosis; Cholesterol; Coronary disease; Endothelial function
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