Coronary Artery and Myocardium Injuries Induced by a High Cholesterol and Fructose Diet in Growing Male and Female Wistar Rats

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) are mainly consequent of atherosclerosis. Men develop CVD at a young age, this risk increases in women at an older age. Several studies have been carried out on male rats, but experiments on growing rats especially female are rare. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a high cholesterol and high fructose diet on the coronary artery and myocardium in growing male and female rats Young Wistar rats were divided into control groups fed a standard diet, cholesterol groups supplemented with 3% cholesterol (ChD), and cholesterol-fructose groups supplemented with 3% cholesterol and 15% fructose (ChFrD) for 14 weeks. Each group consists of male (n=6) and female (n=6) rats. We found, in comparison with corresponding controls rats, that both ChD and ChFrD diets caused a significant hyperglycemia and dyslipidaemia. In hearts supernatants, we highlighted increases of total lipids, malondialdehyde and Catalase assays. The histopathological examination showed a disorganization of the myocardial structure, arterial walls damage and endothelium injuries. Our study showed that ChD and ChFrD diets, caused weight, biochemical, oxidative and tissue disturbances that could lead to CVD in both young male and female Wistar rats even during the growing period.