Comparison of Histomorphometric Characteristics of Heart and Aorta in Young Adult and Aged Rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the histomorphometric and immunohistochemical properties of the heart and aorta in young adult and aged rats. Material and Methods: Sixteen female Wistar albino rats, eight young adult (6 months old, female, 233.25±13.85 g) and rats were used in the study. The rats were sacrificed under high dose anaesthesia and heart and aortic tissues were collected. Ventricular and septum interventiculare thicknesses were measured on the heart tissues, tunica media, tunica intima thickness and aortic diameter were measured histomorphometrically on the aortic tissues. In addition, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) in the smooth muscle cells of the tunica media of the aorta and occludin protein levels in the aorta and heart endothelium were examined by immunohistochemical method and histological scoring was performed. Results: As a result of statistical analysis, body weight, heart weight, heart weight/body weight ratio, tunica media and intima thicknesses, and aortic diameters were found to be statistically significantly higher in aged rats compared to young adult rats (p