C003 Cycloxygenase-2 preserves flow-mediated remodeling in old obese zucker rats resistance arteries

Resistance arteries have a key role in the control of local blood flow. They are able to remodel in response to chronic increases in flow during growth, exercising or in ischemic diseases. Flow-mediated remodelling is governed by the endothelium. The incidence of metabolic syndrome increases with age and these 2 risk factors reduce endothelium integrity, because of an inflammatory process. We hypothesized that inflammation possibly through the induction of cycloxygenase-2 (COX2), might affect remodeling in old obese rats. In 12-month old obese and lean Zucker rats mesenteric resistance arteries were alternatively ligated in vivo so that one artery was submitted to high flow (HF), compare to normal flow (NF) vessels.After 21 days, outward hypertrophic remodelling in HF arteries occurred in obese rats (498±20 in HF arteries vs 443±18μm in NF arteries, P