Key result
Unpredictable chronic mild stress in male mice attenuated endothelium-dependent dilation and altered nitric oxide production, though aggregate metabolic markers were not robust predictors of dysfunction.
Why the study?
Chronic stress and depression have been recognized as significant risk factors for peripheral vascular disease in patients without prior vasculopathy, but the mechanisms linking depressive behavior and vascular dysfunction remain unclear.
Does unpredictable chronic mild stress induce vascular dysfunction in male mice?
Does unpredictable chronic mild stress induce vascular dysfunction in male mice?
Chronic mild stress in mice induces vascular dysfunction characterized by impaired endothelium-dependent dilation and altered NO/H2O2 balance, which is only partially predicted by traditional risk factors like insulin resistance and hypertension.
As chronic stress and depression have become recognized as significant risk factors for peripheral vascular disease in patients with no prior history of vasculopathy, we interrogated this relationship utilizing an established mouse model of chronic stress/depressive symptoms from behavioral research. Male mice were exposed to 8 wk of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS; e.g., wet bedding, predator sound/smell, random disruption of light/dark cycle), with indexes of depressive behavior (coat status, grooming, and mobility) becoming exacerbated vs. controls. In vascular rings, constrictor (phenylephrine) and endothelium-independent dilator (sodium nitroprusside) responses were not different between groups, although endothelium-dependent dilation (methacholine) was attenuated with UCMS. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition was without effect in UCMS but nearly abolished reactivity in controls, while cyclooxygenase inhibition blunted dilation in both. Combined blockade abolished reactivity in controls, although a significant dilation remained in UCMS that was abolished by catalase. Arterial NO production was attenuated by UCMS, although H2O2 production was increased. UCMS mice demonstrated an increased, although variable, insulin resistance and inflammation. However, while UCMS-induced vascular impairments were consistent, the predictive power of aggregate plasma levels of insulin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and C-reactive peptide were limited. However, when separated into tertiles with regard to vascular outcomes, insulin resistance and hypertension were predictive of the most severe vascular impairments. Taken together, these data suggest that aggregate insulin resistance, inflammation, and hypertension in UCMS mice are not robust predictors of vascular dysfunction, suggesting that unidentified mechanisms may be superior predictors of poor vascular outcomes in this model.
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d’Audiffret et al. (2010) studied Chronic stress and depressive symptoms. Unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) vs. Controls was evaluated on Endothelium-dependent dilation and vascular reactivity. Unpredictable chronic mild stress in male mice attenuated endothelium-dependent dilation and altered nitric oxide production, though aggregate metabolic markers were not robust predictors of dysfunction.
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