Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiology

Background: Obesity is a primary risk factor for atherosclerosis. Adipokines are cytokines, secreted by adipose tissue that couple the regulation of lipid accumulation, inflammation, and atherogenesis, and therefore may serve to link obesity with cardiovascular disorders. Resistin is a cysteine rich adipokine with proinflammatory effects, atherogenic properties and has a potential role in the regulation of adipocyte and macrophage function . Increasing evidence suggests that PPAR-Þ activation is an important regulator of resistin protein, so that it may be a therapeutic target in the treatment of atherosclerotic complication. Objective: The present work aimed to study: 1) The effect of induction of obesity and atherosclerosis on serum resistin and its gene expression in adipose tissue. 2) The relation between resistin and change in body weight, dyslipidemia and inflammatory markers. 3) The interplay between PPAR-Þ agonist and resistin, its impact on lipid profile and inflammatory markers in both models. 4) The histopathological changes in rat aortic strips in all studied groups

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