Age associated endothelial function and cardiovascular health in divers: a rat model
With the demographic data indicating tripling of the world's population over the age of 65 from ca. 600 million to over 2 billion by the year 2050 and with the cardiovascular disease still accounting for most deaths in the world, finding innovative ways to retain health in an aging population is of great importance. The overall objective of this study is to provide novel insights to oxidative stress by first performing a pilot and studying diving as a model for hyperoxia in ApoE homozygous knockouts rat-model. Diving is a popular activity all over the world, and if performed following the so-called dive tables (i.e. within regulated pressure/time exposures), diving is considered to be safe. However the number of aging divers is rising, and while diving and aging are independent modulators of cardiovascular function, little is known about their combined effect. Thus, the central question that needs answering regards the risk of cardiovascular disease in aging divers. Are older divers more in risk to develop cardiovascular disease?
In this PhD project, in order to provide partial answer to this question, I will investigate the effect of the single dive on a ApoE homozygous knockouts rat-model with impaired cardiovascular function and up to 20 animals will be used. To understand the physiological and biological mechanisms of diving and aging we have no other choice than using live species, since such factors could not be studied by mathematical models or simulation. However we consider performing pilot study to reduce the number of the animals in the main experiment. It needs to be emphasized that based on the extensive experience in our research group simulated diving is not stressful and animals will not suffer any discomfort or pain, beside animals will be anesthetized immediately after diving before proceeding the rest of the experiment.
This study will provide novel insights into the acute effects of diving on the aging cardiovascular system. This knowledge should ultimately aid health and agility of the aging and diving population.
In this PhD project, in order to provide partial answer to this question, I will investigate the effect of the single dive on a ApoE homozygous knockouts rat-model with impaired cardiovascular function and up to 20 animals will be used. To understand the physiological and biological mechanisms of diving and aging we have no other choice than using live species, since such factors could not be studied by mathematical models or simulation. However we consider performing pilot study to reduce the number of the animals in the main experiment. It needs to be emphasized that based on the extensive experience in our research group simulated diving is not stressful and animals will not suffer any discomfort or pain, beside animals will be anesthetized immediately after diving before proceeding the rest of the experiment.
This study will provide novel insights into the acute effects of diving on the aging cardiovascular system. This knowledge should ultimately aid health and agility of the aging and diving population.