Biochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric study of atherogenic changes induced by hypercholesterolemia: Setting up of the methods

Petr Nachtigal¹, Andrea Gojová¹, Martin Kopecký¹, Dagmar Solichová², Petr Ždánský², Vladimír Semecký¹ (semecky@faf.cuni.cz)

¹Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic,
²Gerontologic and Metabolic Clinic, Teaching Hospital in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Summary

In the present study we set up biochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric methods for studying of atherosclerosis in our laboratory. Rabbits fed (1—3 months) by diet containing 0.4 % of cholesterol showed explicit induction of hypercholesterolemia. We standardized immunohistochemical procedures for the visualisation of the expression of inflammatory cell adhesion molecules VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and for smooth muscle cells and macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions. We applied morphometric and stereological methods for quantification of atherosclerotic lesions. Biochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric outcomes indicates induction of atherogenic changes in our rabbit model of atherosclerosis. All these methods will be used for further investigation of atherosclerosis in our laboratory.