Abstract
Obesity and atherosclerosis are inflammatory states involving variable metabolic signals. The adipokine resistin is implicated in adipose tissue dysfunction and is modulated by PPAR gamma. In this study, resistin and PPAR gamma role is investigated in the development of CVS disease. Forty-eight Adult male albino rats were divided into control, obesity and atherosclerotic groups; each group is divided into two subgroups; with and without PPAR gamma agonist administration for 8 weeks. To assess pathological changes; lipid profile, inflammatory mediator, serum resistin level and resistin expression in adipose tissue were measured. Aorta is histopathologically evaluated. It was found that resistin expression is significantly correlated with lipid profile and inflammatory status in obesity and atherosclerotic groups, and PPAR gamma agonist administration significantly improves inflammatory status and dyslipidemic profile across studied groups (p < .05). Aortic wall shows histopathological evidence of atherosclerosis in obesity group which is more evident in atherosclerotic group, and milder changes upon receiving PPAR gamma agonist.