Gene expression profile of metabolic dysfunction in the aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats following a short-term high fat diet

Diet-induced metabolic dysfunction precedes multiple disease states, including diabetes, heart disease, and atherosclerosis. The critical role of the vasculature in disease progression is established, yet the details of how gene expression changes in early cardiovascular disease remain an enigma. The objective of the current project was to evaluate whether a quantitative assessment of gene expression within the aorta of six-week old healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats compared to those exhibiting metabolic dysfunction symptoms could reveal potential mediators of vascular dysfunction.