Abstract
Background and Objectives: Recent findings have shown that coronary arteries free from epicardial adipose tissue are protected against atherosclerosis progress. The adipose tissues with high atherogenic property have high exchange rate of fatty acids with the vicinity arteries wall. Moreover, composition of the lipids in diet has been found to determine the diversity and amount of fatty acids in the adipose tissue. Considering the different atherogenic properties of various fatty acids, the present study aimed at evaluating the effect of high cholesterol diet on epicardial adipose tissues fatty acids profile in rabbits.
Materials and Methods: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two equal groups. The control group received normal standard diet, whereas the study group was fed with the high cholesterol diet for two months. At the end of the study, the rabbits were anesthetized, 1-5 mg of the epicardial adipose tissue was removed and fatty acids composition of adipose tissues was determined by gas chromatography.
Results: High cholesterol diet caused a significant increase in LDL and triglyceride and a marked decrease in HDL. After two months, in the epicardial adipose tissue, fatty acids 16:0, 18:1t and SFA showed a significant increase (P<0.05), whereas fatty acids 12:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3, MUFA, PUFA, ω3 and ω6 had a significant decrease (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Consumption of high cholesterol diet for two months resulted in a significant increase in atherogenic fatty acids and a decrease in anti-atherogenic fatty acids in the epicardial adipose tissue.