Liver pathomorphology of Mus musculus C57BL6 on atherogenic diet

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. Liver plays a huge role in pathogenesis of atherogenic dislipidemia, development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. We studied the effect of atherogenic diet on liver morphology in animal model of diet-induced atherosclerosis in mice Mus musculus C57BI6. This strain has a natural ability to develop atherosclerosis, while some other mouse stains has not. After 14 weeks on atherogenic diet a severe hepathomegaly (9% of body mass) and lobular structure deformation was found. We also observed signs of micro- and macrovesicular steatosis, cell apoptosis, fibrosis and inflammatory leukocyte infiltration. So, liver not only plays an important role in dislipidemia, but it is also a target-organ in lipid metabolism imbalance.