Serum cortisol as a novel biomarker of atherosclerosis under chronic stress

Background: Adrenal necrosis score (ANS) and serum cortisol concentration (SCC) have been associated with atherosclerosis (AS), characterized by increased intimal and medial thickness. However, under chronic stress (CS), detailed relationships between SCC, ANS, increased intimal/medial thickness are indistinct. Aims of research, under CS, were to: 1) determine separated relationships between them; 2) investigate whether ANS is independent risk factor; 3) further explore whether SCC could be used to reflect ANS and predict intimal/medial thickness. Methods: Thirty-seven rabbits under CS underwent measures of ANS by pathological observation, serum cortisol level, lipid content of abdominal artery wall by Oil red O assay, macrophagocyte by immunohistochemistry. Results: Intimal thickness was related to ANS (P<0.05, beta=0.375, and the b(constant quantity) =0.069). ANS (odd ratio [OR]: 6.525, P=0.043) independently affected intimal thickness. There is a linear correlation between ANS and SCC (P=0.009, beta=-0.422, and the b(constant quantity) =7.307). Under CS, there are more macrophagocyte and lipids in the artery wall. Conclusion: SCC can influence and predict ANS and intimal thickness. Finally, intimal thickness =-0.158xSCC+2.809.