Perilla Oil Reduces Fatty Streak Formation at Aortic Sinus via Attenuation of Plasma Lipids and Regulation of Nitric Oxide Synthase in ApoE KO Mice

Abstract Consumption of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is associated with a reduced incidence of atherosclerosis. Perilla oil (PO) is a vegetable oil rich in α‐linolenic acid (ALA), an n‐3 PUFA. In this study, antiatherogenic effects and related mechanisms of PO were investigated in atherosclerotic mice. Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice (male, n = 27) were fed high‐cholesterol and high‐fat diets containing 10 % w/w lard (LD), PO, or sunflower oil (SO) for 10 weeks. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations reduced in the PO and SO groups compared to the concentrations in the LD group ( P < 0.05). The PO group showed reduced fatty streak lesion size at the aortic sinus ( P < 0.05) compared to the sizes in the LD and SO groups. A morphometric analysis showed enhancement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the PO group compared to that in the LD group ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, aortic protein expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 was diminished in the PO group compared to that in the LD and SO groups ( P < 0.05). These findings suggested that PO inhibited the development of aortic atherosclerosis by improving the plasma lipid profile, regulating nitric oxide synthase, and suppressing the vascular inflammatory response in the aorta of ApoE KO mice.