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Bogoni, F; Brunner, MS; Almer, G; Hörl, G; Tehlivets, YG; Sommer, G; Tehlivets, O; Holzapfel, GA.
Homocysteine leads to aortic stiffening in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis
ACTA BIOMATER. 2025; 201: 412-428. Doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2025.06.003
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Führende Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
Tehlivets Oksana
Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
Almer Gunter
Hörl Gerd
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Abstract:
Hyperhomocysteinemia, an elevated level of homocysteine in the blood, is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and, more generally, cardiovascular disease. However, its relationship with aortic biomechanics has not been investigated yet. To better understand the influence of elevated homocysteine levels on aortic biomechanics, we propose an animal model in which hyperhomocysteinemia, hypercholesterolemia, and their combination were induced in rabbits by balloon injury of the abdominal aorta, special diets, and intravenous homocysteine injections. The effects of a diet deficient in B vitamins and choline, which are required for homocysteine degradation, a cholesterol-rich diet, their combination, and increased homocysteine concentration are investigated in relation to abdominal aortic biomechanics in rabbits. For this purpose, equibiaxial and non-equibiaxial extension tests were carried out, and the influence of risk factors on the stress-stretch relationship, mechanical anisotropy, and tissue inelasticity is discussed. The mechanical characterization of the tissue was supported by microstructural histological analyses. Our study reveals that deficiency of B vitamins and choline cause aortic stiffening even in the absence of hypercholesterolemia, suggesting a possible independent role in the development of atherosclerosis. Further increasing homocysteine concentration through intravenous injections in rabbits fed B vitamins and choline-deficient diet also results in a stiffer stress response and more pronounced inelastic phenomena with respect to the control group.

Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
Atherosclerosis
Homocysteine
Biaxial testing
Rabbit aorta
Cholesterol
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