Augmented superoxide production by Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase causes cerebral artery dysfunction during hypercholesterolemia

Alyson Anne Miller, Travice Michael De Silva, Courtney Peta Judkins, Henry Diep, Grant Raymond Drummond, Christopher Graeme Sobey

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65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We tested the hypothesis that elevated superoxide production by Nox2-NADPH oxidase occurs in cerebral arteries during hypercholesterolemia and causes decreased nitric oxide function. METHODS: Wild-type (WT), apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) and Nox2(-/-)/ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a high-fat diet for 7 to 14 weeks. Basal superoxide production by cerebral arteries was measured using L-012 (100 micromol/L)-enhanced chemiluminescence. Nitric oxide function was assessed in isolated middle cerebral arteries through the constrictor response to N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 micromol/L). Western blotting was used to measure protein expression of Nox2, p47phox, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and superoxide dismutases (1-3). RESULTS: Morphology of cerebral arteries was similar in WT and ApoE(-/-) mice. In ApoE(-/-), but not Nox2(-/-)/ApoE(-/-) mice, superoxide production by cerebral arteries was approximately 50 greater than in WT mice (P
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)784 - 789
Number of pages6
JournalStroke
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

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