Endothelial dysfunction after repeated Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice
BACKGROUND: Arterial relaxation is largely regulated by endothelial nitric oxide (NO). Its diminished activity has been associated with incipient atherosclerosis. We investigated the endothelium-dependent relaxation of aorta in apolipoprotein E-knockout (apoE-KO) mice exposed to single or repeated Chlamydia pneumoniae inoculation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight apoE-KO mice, 8 weeks old, were in