A miniature swine model of atherosclerosis: Quantification of naturally occurring biochemical promoters of atherosclerotic lesions.
David B Sikes*, James R Turk, M. Harold Laughlin
This project supported by Merck-Merial, Dept of Biomedical Science, Dept of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, and NHLBI PO2 HL52490
VVG
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Atherosclerosis, the process of thickening and hardening of the arteries is a substantial contributor to cardiovascular disease. Within twenty weeks of a high fat, high cholesterol diet combined with a sedentary lifestyle atherosclerotic lesions are commonly seen in the femoral and carotid arteries of Yucatan miniature swine. The purpose of this study is to look at the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. To achieve this we will be using immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques to estimate the severity of oxidative injury within the arterial wall.
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD 1) converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide anion, a 1- electron reduction produce of oxygen, is the primary source from which most other reactive oxidants are derived from. Hypothesis: In diseased states
species. Hypothesis: In diseased states the malondialdehyde level will increase in the vessel wall.
4-Hydroxynoneanal- hypothesized to play a key role in cell signal transduction, in a variety of pathways from cell cycle events to cellular adhesion. Hypothesis: In diseased states the 4-Hydroxynoneanal level will increase in the vessel wall.
Nitrotyrosine: With a  diminished SOD 1 capacity or the excess production of superoxide; superoxide can combine with nitric oxide to form peroxynitrite a reactive oxygen species which when exposed to tyrosine will form 3-Nitro-L-Tyrosine Hypothesis: In diseased states there will be an increase in 3-Nitro-L-Tyrosine in the vessel wall.
Oxidized LDL plays a significant role in atherogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. Hypothesis: In
Malondialdehyde the end produce of lipid peroxidation, by reactive oxygen 
diseased states there will be an increase in Ox-LDL in the vessel wall.
the SOD 1 level will be increased in the vessel wall.