Effects of ibudilast on calcium deposition in soft tissues of rabbits with atherosclerosis.
The effects of 2.5 mg/kg.day ibudilast, with or without 300 mg/kg.day nicomol, or 10 mg/kg.day ibudilast on calcium and magnesium concentrations in the central nervous system (CNS), heart, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, abdominal aorta and bone were determined in rabbits fed a 1% cholesterol-rich diet for 3 months. Serum thromboxane B2 concentrations were reduced in rabbits treated with 10 mg/kg.day ibudilast or with 2.5 mg/kg.day ibudilast plus 300 mg/kg.day nicomol, and atherosclerotic lesions were ameliorated compared with untreated rabbits. Calcium concentrations in the frontal cortex and cerebellum were lower in ibudilast/nicomol-treated rabbits and in those fed a standard diet compared with those receiving a cholesterol-rich diet only. Calcium concentrations in the pons and abdominal aorta were also lower in ibudilast/nicomol-treated rabbits whereas the calcium concentrations in the cerebellum were lower in rabbits treated with either 2.5 or 20 mg/kg.day ibudilast. There were no significant changes in tissue magnesium concentrations after feeding a cholesterol-rich diet, with or without drug treatment. It is concluded that 2.5 mg/kg.day ibudilast plus 300 mg/kg.day nicomol or 10 mg/kg.day ibudilast produced a scavenger effect on calcium deposited in the CNS and abdominal aorta of rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet.
Yasui
M
M
Division of Neurological Diseases, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
Ota
K
K
Oshima
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000737:chemistry; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry; D007212:Indolizines; D011720:Pyrazoles
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D002118:Calcium; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008274:Magnesium; D011725:Pyridines; C038366:ibudilast; D007212:Indolizines; D011720:Pyrazoles