Stronger vasoconstriction and weaker vasodilation in mesenteric arteries of Ossabaw than Göttingen minipigs before manifestation of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Eickelmann Chantal , Lieder Helmut Raphael , Sturek Michael , Heusch Gerd , Kleinbongard Petra 
Published: May 2024

The metabolic syndrome predisposes and contributes to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The minipig strain “Ossabaw” is characterized by a polygenic predisposition to develop metabolic syndrome and diffuse atherosclerosis in response to a hypercaloric atherogenic diet. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Ossabaw minipigs exhibit an altered vasomotor function even before they develop their diseased phenotype. Mesenteric arteries of adult Ossabaw (n=30) and Göttingen minipigs (n=40), a pig strain without genetic predisposition to a metabolic syndrome, were harvested postmortem, dissected, and mounted on a myograph for isometric force measurements. Maximal vasoconstriction to smooth muscle cell depolarization with potassium chloride (KClmax) was repeatedly induced (twice 0.6×10−1 mol/L and twice 1.2×10−1 mol/L). Cumulative concentration-response curves were determined in response to 1×10−9 -1×10−4 mol/L norepinephrine. Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation were analyzed in response to carbachol and nitroprusside, respectively (1×10−9 - 1×10−4 mol/L, each) after pre-constriction by norepinephrine. The baseline diameter of mesenteric arteries from Ossabaw minipigs was smaller than that from Göttingen minipigs (329±20 vs. 435±11 μm), and mesenteric arteries of Ossabaw minipigs developed a higher baseline force of contraction than mesenteric arteries of Göttingen minipigs (6.2±0.7 vs. 3.6±0.3 mN). The maximal vasoconstrictor response to KCl was comparable between the minipig strains. Vasoconstriction in response to norepinephrine was more pronounced in Ossabaw than in Göttingen minipigs (143±9 vs. 108±6% KClmax). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (46.4±5.5 vs. 16.0±3.0% of norepinephrine-induced preconstriction) and -independent vasodilation (36.7±4.9 vs. 2.3±0.6% of norepinephrine-induced preconstriction) were less pronounced in Ossabaw than in Göttingen minipigs. Neither the differences in baseline diameter nor in baseline developed force of contraction had any effect on the above data, as analyzed in retrospectively matched subsets of mesenteric arteries with a comparable baseline diameter or a comparable baseline developed force of contraction, respectively. Even before the development of metabolic syndrome, vasomotor function is shifted to more vasoconstriction and less vasodilation in Ossabaw minipigs, suggesting a genetic predisposition for the early development of vascular dysfunction. Thus, Ossabaw minipigs may be a suitable model to reflect the human situation of a heterogeneous, genetically determined primordial risk constellation for vascular dysfunction. This work was supported by the German Research Foundation [SFB 1116 B08 to G.H. and P.K.] and the European COST ACTION in CARDIOPROTECTION [CA16225 to G.H. and IG16225 to G.H. and P.K.]. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.