Severe hyperlipidemia causes impaired renin–angiotensin system function in apolipoprotein E deficient mice

Dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and may associate with renal injury. Using mouse models with various degrees of hypercholesterolemia and hypertryliceridemia, we investigated the effects of lipids on the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). ApoE −/− mice were fed either a high fat diet (HF-ApoE −/−; mice developed hypertriglyceridemia and severe hypercholesterolemia) or regular chow (R-ApoE −/−; mice developed less severe hypercholesterolemia only). Renal histopathology in the HF-ApoE −/− revealed massive lipid accumulation especially at the glomerular vascular pole. In these mice plasma renin concentration was significantly reduced (489 ± 111 ng/(ml h) versus 1023 ± 90 ng/(ml h) in R-ApoE −/−mice) and blood pressure was consequently significantly lower than in R-ApoE −/− (104 ± 2 mmHg versus 115 ± 2 mmHg, respectively). A model of renin-dependent renovascular hypertension (two-kidney, one clip) was generated and HF-ApoE −/− mice proved unable to increase renin secretion, and blood pressure, in response to diminished renal perfusion as compared to regular chow fed mice (665 ± 90 ng/(ml h) versus 2393 ± 372 ng/(ml h), respectively and 106 ± 3 mmHg versus 140 ± 2 mmHg, respectively). Hypertriglyceridemia and severe hypercholesterolemia are associated with renal lipid deposition and impaired renin secretion in ApoE −/− mice exposed to high fat diet. These observations further characterize the phenotype of this widely used mouse model and provide a rationale for the use of these mice to study lipid induced organ damage.