EFFCTS OF AÇAÍ SEED HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT ON THE PERIVASCULAR ADIPOSE TISSUE (PVAT) ALTERATIONS IN C57BL/6 MICE FED A HIGH FAT DIET.

The increase in the rate of cardiovascular diseases in Brazil is associated with a growth in obesity frequency among the population. Previously, our group demonstrated that açaí seed (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) hydroalcoholic extract (ASE) rich in polyphenols, improves the vascular remodeling in the aorta of obese mice. Considering that the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) plays a role in the modulation of vascular structure and function, and that obesity negatively alters the secretory profile of PVAT, we hypothesized that the beneficial effect of ASE could be due to a modulation of PVAT.