Mitochondrial Morphofunctional Alterations in Smooth Muscle Cells of Aorta in Rats

BAEZ MARÍA DEL CARMEN; TARÁN MARIANA; LLORENS, MARIA CANDELARIA; BALCEDA ARIEL; SCRIBANO MARÍA PAZ; PONS PATRICIA; MOYA MÓNICA

ISRN cardiology

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Lugar: Cairo; Año: 2014 vol. p. 1 - 1

2090-5580

n an experimental model of atherogenesis induced by hyperfibrinogenemia (HF), the pharmacological response of vitamin E was studied in order to assess its antioxidant effect on the mitochondrial morphofunctional alterations in aortic smooth muscle cells. Three groups of male rats were used: (Ctr) control, (AI) atherogenesis induced for 120 days, and (AIE) atherogenesis induced for 120 days and treated with vitamin E. HF was induced by adrenalin injection (0.1 mg/day/rat) for 120 days. AIE group was treated with the administration of 3.42 mg/day/rat of vitamin E for 105 days after the first induction. Mitochondria morphology was analyzed by electronic microscopy (EM) and mitochondrial complexes (MC) by spectrophotometry. In group AI the total and mean number of mitochondria reduced significantly, the intermembranous matrix increased, and swelling was observed with respect to Ctr and AIE (𝑃 < 0.01). These damages were related to a significant decrease in the activity of c