Ghrelin Does not Alter Aortic Intima-Media Thickness and Adipose Tissue Characteristics in Control and Obese Mice

Objective(s): Atherosclerosis is a chronic immune-inflammatory disease that generally leads to ischemic heart disease. Ghrelin has several modulatory effects on cardiovascular system. In this study, we investigated the effect of ghrelin on aortic intima-media thickness, size and the number of adipocyte cells in obese and control mice. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 24 male C57BL/6 mice. The animals were divided into four groups: control, obese (received high fat diet), control+ghrelin (injected with 100 μg/Kg subcutaneously, bid) and obese+ghrelin (n=6 each). After 10 days, animals were sacrificed and epididymal adipose tissue and thoracic aortae were removed. Adipocyte cell number, size and aortic intima-media thickness were evaluated. Results: Ghrelin did not change adipocyte cell number and size and aortic intima-media thickness in obese and control mice. In this study, high fat diet significantly decreased the number of adipocyte cells while increased their size (P<0.05). Ghrelin administration had no significant effect on adipocyte cell number and size in obese and control groups (P >0.05). In addition, it could not alter aortic intima-media thickness in both groups. Conclusion: Although ghrelin has several cardiovascular effects, it seems that it could not alter the size and number of adipocyte cells and aortic intima-media thickness in diet-induced obese mice.