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Effects of blueberries in prevention of atherosclerosis in ApoE knockout mice
Author(s) -
Wu Xianli,
Ferguson Matthew E,
Wilkes Samuel E,
Nagarajan Shanmugam
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.723.3
Subject(s) - apolipoprotein e , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , antioxidant , oil red o , knockout mouse , triglyceride , superoxide dismutase , cholesterol , biology , biochemistry , adipose tissue , receptor , disease , adipogenesis
ApoE knockout (ApoE −/− ) mice were fed AIN‐93G diet (CD) or CD formulated to contain 1% freeze‐dried whole wild blueberries (CD1% BB). Mice were sacrificed after 20 weeks on the specified diet. Atherosclerotic lesions in aortic sinus were determined by staining cryosections (10 μm) with Oil Red O. The mean lesion area for ApoE −/− mice fed the CD1% BB was reduced by 39% (P <0.01) compared to CD fed animals. Serum LDL‐cholesterol and triglyceride levels were slightly lower in ApoE −/− mice fed CD1%BB (NS) compared to CD fed animals. Serum paraoxonase 1 activities in serum of CD1%BB animals were higher than that in CD animals (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase activities in both serum and liver were found to be increased (P<0.05) in CD1%BB‐fed animals. Serum total antioxidant capacity measured by ORAC was not different between CD and CD1%BB fed animals, though a slight increase in CD1%BB‐fed animals was observed. These results indicated that anti‐atherogenic effects of BB are probably independent of changes in serum lipid profile. Furthermore, in addition to directly scavenging free radicals, BB in the diet altered antioxidant status by increasing antioxidant enzymes. ( USDA‐CRIS‐6251‐5100002‐06S)