Atherosclerosis
Volume 185, Issue 2 , Pages 278-281, April 2006

The combination of high dietary methionine plus cholesterol induces myocardial fibrosis in rabbits

  • Anthony Zulli

      Affiliations

    • Vascular Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia
    • Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: 61 3 9496 2955; fax: 61 3 9497 4554.
    • ,
  • David L. Hare

      Affiliations

    • Vascular Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia
    • Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Australia
    • ,
  • Brian F. Buxton

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Australia
    • ,
  • M. Jane Black

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

Received 18 April 2005; received in revised form 7 June 2005; accepted 21 June 2005. published online 29 July 2005.

Abstract 

Limited evidence suggests that myocardial fibrosis might be associated with dietary cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective

To investigate the effects of high dietary cholesterol, methionine (the precursor to homocysteine), and the combination of the two diets on myocardial fibrosis.

Methods

Rabbits were randomly allocated into four dietary groups for 12 weeks: control (Con), 1% methionine (Meth), 0.5% cholesterol (Chol) or 1% methionine plus 0.5% cholesterol (MethChol).

Results

Myocardial fibrosis was not significantly increased in Chol or Meth. However, interstitial fibrosis increased by 85% (p=0.03) and perivascular fibrosis 28-fold (p<0.01) in the MethChol group compared to Con.

Conclusions

These results suggest that high levels of dietary cholesterol or methionine alone do not significantly increase myocardial collagen content. However, the combination of the two diets does cause myocardial fibrosis. Therefore, excessive cholesterol and methionine intake may be an important pathogenic factor in the development of myocardial fibrosis.

Keywords: Cholesterol, Homocysteine, Myocardial fibrosis

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PII: S0021-9150(05)00442-9

doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2005.06.036

Atherosclerosis
Volume 185, Issue 2 , Pages 278-281, April 2006

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