Impacts of Citrulline and Lycopene on Cardiovascular Health

To complete this project, 40 LDL receptor deficient male mice will be purchased from the Jackson Laboratory and housed in an animal facility of the University of Kentucky. Four groups will be studied (N = 10/group). Mice will be provided with different components in drinking solutions as shown in the 4 groups. Group 1: drinking solution with watermelon extract from C. Lanatus "sentinel"; Group 2: drinking solution that matches the carbohydrate content of the watermelon extract with synthetic citrulline, Group 3: drinking solution that matches the carbohydrate content of the watermelon extract with synthetic lycopene; Group 4: drinking solution that matches the carbohydrate content of the watermelon extract. Mice will be provided one of the four drinking solutions for 13 weeks ad libitum. After one week of initiating the drinking solutions, mice will be provided a diet with saturated fat (milk fat, 21% wt/wt) and cholesterol (0.2% wt/wt; Diet# TD.88137; Harlan Teklad) for 12 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. After termination, pathologies and biochemical assays will be processed.