Nucleic acids and collagen can attenuate ovariectomy-induced degeneration of fibers in the abdominal aortic wall of female rat

Background

Women are more resistant to the development of cardiovascular diseases compared with men. However, the vascular integrity of elderly women gradually declines, and their incidence is comparable to that of men. The increased risk of cardiovascular diseases is reportedly associated with menopause. The previous studies which show close relationship between menopause and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases suggest that preventive methods must be established to alleviate this unavoidable menopause-induced vascular degeneration. Functional food factors can be effective for prevention of degeneration of the vascular wall in women. In this study, we evaluated the effects of dietary nucleic acids and collagen on vascular degeneration after ovariectomy (OVX).

Methods

Three-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into 4 groups according to condition: sham-placebo drink, sham-sample drink, OVX-placebo drink, and OVX-sample drink. The sample drink and placebo drink were administered orally until autopsy, respectively. One week later, sham-treatment or OVX was performed, and 7 weeks later, tissues were collected for pathological analysis by staining.

Results

OVX-induced degenerations of vascular fibers, degradation of elastic fiber and denature of collagen, were suppressed in the rats which were administrated nucleic acids and collagen. OVX induced increases of neutrophil elastase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9. The increased neutrophil elastase and MMPs were decreased by administration of nucleic acids and collagen. Nucleic acids and collagen suppressed infiltration of macrophages and dysfunction of vascular smooth muscles cells.

Conclusions

These results suggest that nucleic acids and collagen prevent vascular inflammation which results in degeneration of the vascular wall.