Abstract
Hyperglycemia causes atherosclerosis. Boiling extract of yellow soy bean (YSE) is expected to prevent the vessels from atherosclerosis, as well as to suppress it. To clarify the mechanical and histological effects of YSE on the aortic wall, rats were divided into 3 groups: normal rats (Normal), rats with hyperglycemia induced with streptozotocin (Control), and hyperglycemic rats to which YSE was orally administered for 4-5 weeks (YS). At the end of YSE-administration period, the thoracic aorta was resected, and viscoelastic parameters of Kelvin model were determined via a uniaxial tensile test using a ring specimen. In addition, amounts of collagen and elastin fibers were histologically evaluated on medial cross-sectional area. The results showed that the main elastic component of the model in Normal and YS groups were significantly higher than that in Control one (p<0.05, respectively), whereas the collagen area in Normal and YS groups were significantly lower than that in Control one (p<0.01, respectively). No significant difference was observed in the elastin area among groups. YSE may keep the aortic elasticity in spite of the collagen reduction induced with hyperglycemia.
