RESUMO
The aim of the research was to assess the effect of nesfatin-1 on the structure, flexibility parameters, and expression of adropin, nesfatin-1, and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) in the abdominal aorta in ovariectomized rats. Fragments of aortas were collected after euthanasia of female sham-operated (CONT) and ovariectomized Wistar rats (EXP), which were administered intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline (CONT, n = 7; EXP-O, n = 7) or nesfatin-1 (EXP-N, n = 7) in an amount of 2 µg/kg b.w. once a day for 8 weeks. The samples of aortas were collected for measurement of elasticity as well as histomorphometric, immunohistochemical, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy analysis. The ovariectomy caused a significant increase in the thickness of the total wall and its particular layers in the aorta, in comparison to the CONT and EXP-N groups. However, the ovariectomy led to a decrease in the amount of elastin, collagen (mature, immature collagen, collagen maturity ratio 1660 - 1690 cm-1), and amides, with a simultaneous increase in lipids, especially in the tunica intima-media of the abdominal aorta compared to the other groups. The use of nesfatin-1 significantly increased the amount of collagen, elastin and amides with a simultaneous decrease in the amount of lipids and the expression of AT1R, adropin and nesfatin-1 in the abdominal aorta of ovariectomized rats. In conclusion, our study showed that the ovariectomy surgery induced changes in the abdominal aorta wall characteristic for aging females. Application of nesfatin-1 may prevent the negative consequences in the vessel wall structure in females in conditions of estrogen deficiency and prevent atherosclerotic changes in the cardiovascular system.