Sex-specific characterization of aortic function and inflammation in a new diet-induced mouse model of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) expansion promotes inflammation and vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the sexual dimorphisms of PVAT are poorly understood. Using a new mouse model of diet-induced MetS, we characterized the aorta and determined the influence of PVAT on vascular function in males and females. Six-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed either a high-fat diet (43% kcal in food) with high sugar and salt in their drinking water (10% high fructose corn syrup and 0.9% NaCl; HFSS), or a normal chow diet (NCD) for 10 weeks. The aorta was characterized at endpoint using pin myography, flow cytometry, bulk RNA-sequencing, GSEA analysis, and histology. Compared to NCD-fed mice, HFSS-fed mice displayed higher weight gain, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, aortic fibrosis, and perivascular adipocyte cross-sectional area, regardless of sex (p