Expression of ryanodine receptor 3 during the atherosclerotic plaque formation of apolipoprotein E gene-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice

Background: To analyze the expression of ryanodine receptor 3 (RYR3) during the atherosclerotic plaque formation of apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice. Methods: Male ApoE(-/-) and wild-type C57BL/6J mice aged 7-8 weeks old were selected, fed high-fat diet for 20, 27 and 33 weeks respectively and killed. Serial aortic sections were prepared and subjected to HE and Masson staining to determine the percentage of plaque area to lumen area and the percentage of collagen area to plaque area. Lipid content in the plaque was detected by oil red O staining. The percentage of smooth muscle cells with positive RYR3 expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Dynamic expression of RYR3 in the formation of vulnerable plaque was analyzed with Western blot. Results: Compared with C57BL/6J mice at the same age, aortic RYR3 expression increased in ApoE(-/-) mice dynamically as they grew older (P<0.05). Conclusion: RYR3 was involved in the pathological process of atherosclerotic plaque formation, during which its expression was up-regulated.