Differential effects of n-3 fatty acids on the regression of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries and the aorta of the pig.
Atherosclerosis was induced in 13 Yorkshire pigs (4 weeks; 7-10 kg) by endothelial balloon denudation of the aorta and left anterior descending coronary artery and a diet containing 2% (wt/wt) of cholesterol, 8% (wt/wt) of lard fat and 0.5% (wt/wt) of bile acids. After 8 months 7 animals (group I) were sacrificed to determine the extent to which atherosclerosis had developed. The other 6 animals (group R) received a diet (no cholesterol, 5% (wt/wt) of lard fat and 5% (wt/wt) of fish oil) for 4 months. In I plasma cholesterol increased from 2.29 to 9.02 mmol l-1 after 8 months and in R it returned to 1.89 mmol l-1 after 12 months. Less marked changes occurred in plasma HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. ADP-induced platelet aggregation and the number of platelets remained constant in I whereas both parameters were reduced in R after 12 months. In the lesions of the abdominal aorta of I, cholesterol, cholesterol ester, phospholipid and triglyceride contents were 4.97, 2.08, 4.20 and 0.77 micrograms g-1 wet wt, respectively, whereas in R these values (3.02, 0.47, 2.70 and 0.44 micrograms g-1 wet wt, respectively), were close to the values measured in non-abraded vessel wall specimens. The Sudan IV-positive area of the aorta was 34 +/- 9% in I and 10 +/- 4% in R (P less than 0.05). Luminal encroachment of the denudated left anterior descending coronary artery was 11 +/- 3% in I and 13 +/- 3% in R (P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sassen
L M
LM
Laboratory for Experimental Cardiology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Koning
M M
MM
Dekkers
D H
DH
Lamers
J M
JM
Verdouw
P D
PD
D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D012074:Remission Induction; D013552:Swine; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol