Female sex and Western-style diet protect mouse resistance arteries during acute oxidative stress

A Western-style diet (WD; high in fat and carbohydrates) increases vascular oxidative stress. We hypothesized that vascular cells adapt to a WD by developing resilience to oxidative stress. Male and female C57BL/6J mice (4 wk of age) were fed a control diet (CD) or a WD for 16-20 wk. Superior epigastric arteries (SEAs; diameter, similar to 125 mu m) were isolated and pressurized for study. Basal reactive oxygen species production was greatest in SEAs from males fed the WD. During exposure to H2O2 (200 mu M, 50 min), propidium iodide staining identified nuclei of disrupted endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). For mice fed the CD, death of SMCs (21%) and ECs (6%) was greater (P < 0.05) in SEAs from males than females (9% and 2%, respectively). WD consumption attenuated cell death most effectively in SEAs from males. With no difference at rest, H2O2 increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) to the greatest extent in SEAs from males, as shown by fura 2 fluorescence. Selective disruption of the endothelium (luminal air bubble) increased [Ca2+](i) and SMC death during H2O2 exposure irrespective of sex; the WD reduced both responses most effectively in males. Nonselective transient receptor potential (TRP) channel inhibition (ruthenium red, 5 mu M) attenuated the rise of [Ca2+](i), as did selective inhibition of TRP vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channels (HC-067047, 1 mu M), which also attenuated cell death. In contrast, inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (diltiazem, 50 mu M) was without effect. Thus, for resistance arteries during acute oxidative stress: 1) ECs are more resilient than (and can protect) SMCs, 2) vessels from females are inherently more resilient than those from males, and 3) a WD increases vascular resilience by diminishing TRPV4 channel-dependent Ca2+ entry.