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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of lovastatin on suppression and regression of atherosclerosis in the lipid-fed rabbit. Fifty-seven New Zealand rabbits in six groups were fed a 0.3% cholesterol diet for 10 weeks. In the progression phase of the study, group C10 served as a control and received 1 ml of DMSO daily by gavage. Two other groups, L10 and H10, received low (L)-dose (10 mg/day) or high (H)-dose (20 mg/day) lovastatin dissolved in 1 ml of DMSO for 10 weeks. In the regression phase of the study, three groups of rabbits received the high lipid diet for 10 weeks and were then shifted to a normal diet for the second 10 weeks. During the second 10 weeks, the control group C20 received 1 ml of DMSO daily, and groups L20 and H20 received 10 and 20 mg/day of lovastatin by gavage, respectively. In the progression phase of the study, lovastatin significantly attenuated the percent of aortic lesions in groups L10 (8 +/- 7%) and H10 (9 +/- 14%) vs. the control group C10 (31 +/- 17%; p less than 0.01). There was a similar reduction in pulmonary lesions in groups L10 (10 +/- 6%) and H10 (4 +/- 5%) compared to the control group C10 (30 +/- 16%; p less than 0.01). There was also a reduction in plaque thickness in both the aorta and pulmonary artery, and hence an even greater reduction in estimated plaque volume. In the regression phase of the study, lovastatin also significantly reduced the percent of aortic lesions (groups L20 and H20 vs. C20: 27 +/- 18 and 22 +/- 7% vs. 40 +/- 17%; p less than 0.05) and pulmonary lesions (21 +/- 10 and 17 +/- 6% vs. 26 +/- 9%; p greater than 0.05 and p less than 0.05, respectively); the average maximum plaque thickness of aorta (0.24 and 0.26 mm vs. 0.49 mm; p less than 0.01); and the standardized plaque volume per unit area of aorta (4.5 and 3.4 vs. 12.1 mm-%; p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the percent of aortic lesions between groups L20 and H20 and group C10 (27 +/- 18 and 22 +/- 7 vs. 31 +/- 17%; p greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Effect of lovastatin on suppression and regression of atherosclerosis in lipid-fed rabbits. 137 94

Hypercholesterolemia was induced in New Zealand white rabbits by feeding them a 0.5% cholesterol-enriched rabbit chow for 2 wk. Half of the cholesterol-fed rabbits were given lovastatin, a potent inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, and the other half were given its vehicle (i.e., DMSO). At the end of 2 wk, the rabbits underwent experimental myocardial ischemia or a sham ischemia procedure. Ischemic animals fed the cholesterol-enriched diet for 2 wk experienced much greater cardiac damage than ischemic rabbits fed the control diet, despite the absence of any atherosclerosis. Lovastatin was shown to protect the ischemic rabbit myocardium by three different indices of ischemic damage: (a) maintenance of creatine kinase (CK) activity in the ischemic myocardium; (b) reduced loss of free amino-nitrogen containing compounds from the ischemic myocardium; and (c) blunting the rise of plasma CK activity. These effects were not due to differences in myocardial oxygen demand between the groups. Arteries isolated from animals fed the cholesterol-enriched diet developed defects in endothelium-dependent relaxation in both large vessels as well as coronary resistance vessels. Acute hypercholesterolemia increases the severity of myocardial ischemia while at the same time impairing endothelium-dependent relaxation. These deleterious changes can be significantly attenuated by treatment with lovastatin.
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PMID:Cardiovascular effects of acute hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Reversal with lovastatin treatment. 291 50

Earlier studies have established that the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), was effective in preventing atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. In the present studies, the effect of DMSO on existing atherosclerotic lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits was investigated. Rabbits were placed on an atherogenic diet containing 1% cholesterol for a period of 10 weeks. At the end of the 10-week period, the rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: one group was placed on a control diet consisting of regular rabbit chow for an additional 12-week period, whereas the remaining group was continued on the atherogenic diet. During this period half of the rabbits in each of these groups were treated with DMSO (approximately 5 g/kg) which was included in their drinking water. Food consumption and fluid intakes were monitored daily and body weights at weekly intervals. Total serum cholesterol levels were measured at periodic intervals. Lipid deposits in the eye which accompany atherosclerosis were examined before and at 12 weeks after institution of the new dietary regimens. At the end of 12 weeks, all rabbits were killed and the thoracic aortas were examined for changes in the extent of atherosclerosis. Food consumption and body weight increased in rabbits on the control diet and in those treated with DMSO. Those maintained on the atherogenic diet showed little change in food intake or body weight. Fluid intake was significantly elevated in all rabbits placed on DMSO. Serum cholesterol levels returned to normal in all rabbits on the control diet. Serum cholesterol levels remained unchanged in rabbits kept on the atherogenic diet alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in the rabbit: effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on existing lesions. 325 28

The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in the rabbit was investigated. Two groups of rabbits were studied: a Control group which received regular chow and an Experimental group which received an atherogenic diet containing 1% cholesterol. DMSO was either omitted or added to the drinking water of both groups in amounts of 2, 4, 5 and 6%. After 3 months all animals were autopsied; the thoracic aorta was examined for atheromatous lesions and the abdominal aorta assayed for total cholesterol content. As expected the thoracic aortas of all rabbits in the Control group were free of atheromatous lesions. With the exception of one rabbit in the Experimental group, all rabbits on the atherogenic diet which did not receive DMSO had extensive aortic lesions covering 82 +/- 5% of the surface area of the thoracic aorta. Aortic lesions were inhibited by about 50% in rabbits on 2% (dose, 1.5 g/kg) DMSO and virtually absent in the majority of rabbits on 4 (dose, 3.5 g/kg), 5 (dose, 5.5 g/kg) and 6% (dose, 9.1 g/kg) DMSO. The food intake of rabbits on the atherogenic diet was not suppressed by DMSO. Changes in the cholesterol content of the abdominal aortas paralleled the presence or absence of lesions in the thoracic aorta. Blood cholesterol levels were greatly elevated in all rabbits on the atherogenic diet and not lowered by DMSO. In conclusion, cholesterol induced atherosclerosis in the rabbit was inhibited by DMSO. This action of DMSO was independent of the hypercholesterolemia and not due to a suppression of food intake. DMSO may provide a useful probe for investigating the underlying mechanism(s) in the development of cholesterol induced atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Inhibition of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits by dimethyl sulfoxide. 368 2

Rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells were exposed to hypoxia and the DMSO-soluble particulate matter of cigarette smoke (DSP) and the effects on the cells were compared to those of ultraviolet (UV) light, a wellknown cytotoxic stimulus. Hypoxia reduced cell proliferation and collagen secretion as long as it lasted (1, 3 and 24 hours), but these effects were reversible and no persistent toxic effects were seen for the next 48 hours, measured as leakage of prelabelled [3H]-thymidine from cells. DSP caused similar changes to those produced by UV-light. Proliferation and collagen secretion were reduced, and these effects were not reversible when the stimulus was removed after one hour. DSP was toxic as there was an increased leakage of [3H]-thymidine from cells. Increasing the concentration of DSP caused more pronounced effects while extending the incubation time to 3 hours did not, the latter being in contrast to the consequences of UV-irradiation. Endothelial cells were more sensitive to the effects of DSP than smooth muscle cells. DSP diluted 1:25 compared to the smallest concentration that had significant effects on smooth muscle cells reduced proliferation of endothelial cells, and in dilutions of 1:4 almost all of the cells detached. A possible role for DSP in the development of atherosclerosis is discussed.
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PMID:Effects of different injurious stimuli on cell death, proliferation, and collagen secretion by rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture. 665 21

Oxygen toxicity and related free radical reactions are implicated in numerous pathophysiological conditions, like atherosclerosis, inflammation, gastric ulceration, neuronal degeneration, tumour promotion. The flowers of Matricaria chamomilla, Asteraceae, have been used therapeutically for conditions in which oxidative stress is supposed to be implicated. We considered interesting to investigate the effect of Chamazulene, the active substance of chamomile, on free radical processes. Membrane lipid peroxidation was induced by Fe2+/ascorbate and assessed as the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive material. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was studied as the competition of Chamazulene with DMSO for HO. generated by Fe3+/ascorbate. Finally, the interaction of Chamazulene with the N-centered stable free radical DPPH was estimated photometrically (517 nm). It was found that Chamazulene inhibited lipid peroxidation in a concentration and time dependent manner presenting an IC50 of 18 microM after 45 min incubation. It could also inhibit the autoxidation of DMSO (33 mM) by 76% at 25 mM, and had a weak capacity to interact with DPPH. In conclusion, Chamazulene presents interesting properties concerning radical processes.
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PMID:Investigation of the effect of chamazulene on lipid peroxidation and free radical processes. 882 32

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the water soluble component of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) of isolated rabbit aortas. The incubation with CSE was found to inhibit EDR in a dose-dependent manner. Co-incubation of the aortic strips with superoxide dismutase (SOD), N-acetylcysteine, glutathione or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), free radical scavengers, attenuated the CSE-induced inhibition of the arterial relaxation. Co-incubation of the strips with captopril (3 mM), an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, also attenuated CSE-induced impairment of vasorelaxation. In parallel experiments using cultured human endothelial cells, CSE suppressed endothelial release of NOx, stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NO). SOD, DMSO and captopril attenuated the suppression of NO production by CSE in association with reduction of free radicals, superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, in CSE solution. Neither lactate dehydrogenase release from the cultured endothelial cells nor cell death estimated by trypan blue exclusion test was found after the incubation of the cultured endothelial cells with CSE. The results indicate that free radicals in CSE induce the impairment of EDR, which may be partly due to suppression of NO production and is not due to non-specific cytotoxicity by CSE. Captopril attenuates CSE-induced endothelial dysfunction partly through scavenging free radicals.
Atherosclerosis 1997 Jun
PMID:Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of rabbit aortas by cigarette smoke extract--role of free radicals and attenuation by captopril. 919 72

Arsenic is atherogenic, carcinogenic, and genotoxic. Because atherosclerotic plaque has been considered a benign smooth muscle cell tumor, we have studied the effects of arsenite on DNA integrity of human vascular smooth muscle cells. By using single-cell alkaline electrophoresis, apparent DNA strand breaks were detected in a 4-hour treatment with arsenite at a concentration above 1 micromol/L. DNA strand breaks of arsenite-treated cells were increased by Escherichia coli formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase and decreased by diphenylene iodinium, superoxide dismutase, catalase, pyruvate, DMSO, or D-mannitol. Extract from arsenite-treated cells showed increased capacity for producing superoxide when NADH was included in the reaction mixture; however, addition of arsenite to extract from untreated cells did not increase superoxide production. The superoxide-producing ability of arsenite-treated cells was also suppressed by diphenylene iodinium, 4,5-dihydroxy-1, 2-benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt (Tiron), or superoxide dismutase. Superoxide production and DNA strand breaks in arsenite-treated cells were also suppressed by transfecting antisense oligonucleotides of p22phox, an essential component of NADH oxidase. Treatment with arsenite also increased the mRNA level of p22phox. These results suggest that arsenite activates NADH oxidase to produce superoxide, which then causes oxidative DNA damage. The result that arsenite at low concentrations increases oxidant levels and causes oxidative DNA damage in vascular smooth muscle cells may be important in arsenic-induced atherosclerosis.
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PMID:NADH oxidase activation is involved in arsenite-induced oxidative DNA damage in human vascular smooth muscle cells. 1072 Apr 12

Cigarette smoking is among the leading risk factors in the etiology of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The mechanism, however, that links cigarette smoking to an increased incidence of atherosclerosis is poorly understood. Endothelial cell (EC) integrity is critical in preventing vascular lesion formation, and after a loss of EC integrity reendothelialization must be rapid and complete. We therefore investigated whether cigarette smoke affected the ECs ability to migrate or altered the intracellular signals generated during migration. The DMSO-soluble fraction of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), derived from the standard research cigarette, was tested on cultured ECs (HUVEC) derived from human umbilical vein. The addition of CSC caused a dose-dependent decrease in the ability of EC to migrate as measured over a 24-h time period. Nicotine and cadmium sulfate, two constituents of cigarette smoke, individually or in combination, had no effect on migration. Examination of the tyrosine phosphorylation state of various intracellular proteins by Western blot analysis showed that CSC caused the hyperphosphorylation of a 130-kDa protein. In addition, other intracellular proteins showed changes in their phosphorylation states after CSC addition. These results support the hypothesis that CSC is detrimental to normal EC function in maintaining vascular integrity and suggest that smokers are more likely to develop complications of vascular disease due to delayed or incomplete reendothelialization as a consequence of decreased EC migration.
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PMID:Inhibition of endothelial cell migration by cigarette smoke condensate. 1118 Sep 90

Despite limited scientific evidence, Na2EDTA chelation therapy has been advocated for a variety of conditions including atherosclerosis. Five patients presented with symptoms that developed 30 min-2 h into chelation therapy at an outpatient clinic with infusions of sterile waterwith 3 g Na2EDTA, 2 g MgCl, 100 mg B12, 100 mg B6, 1 ml bit B complex and 15 g Vit C; 1 patient also received 10 ml of 50% DMSO iv. All patients experienced gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal symptoms. Additional effects were (4/5), excessive thirst (4/5), and diaphoresis (4/5). On presentation patients were hypotensive (5/5), tachycardic (4/5) and febrile (5/5). Therapy included iv. fluids (5/5), dopamine (1/5), and ivantibiotics (4/5). Initial data showed leukopenia (5/5), thrombocytopenia (3/5), bandemia (4/5), EKG abnormalities of unknown acuity (5/5), and transient, mild rise in serum creatinine (3/4). All patients were discharged without permanent sequelae. It is unclear if effects were related to dose or rate of administration.
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PMID:Adverse effects in 5 patients receiving EDTA at an outpatient chelation clinic. 1236 Nov 9


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