title: Sudden death related to advanced coronary atherosclerosis in mini-pigs: influence of some drugs.
abstract: Advanced coronary atherosclerosis was produced in 30 mini-pigs by a combination of a hypercholesterolaemic diet and X-irradiation to the precordial region. Within 11-25 weeks after the irradiation, 13 of the 30 animals died a sudden death probably caused by coronary atherosclerosis. The contents of free and ester-bound cholesterol in the right coronary artery were significantly higher in the animals which died spontaneously than in surviving animals. In an untreated group of 12 animals 7 died whereas in a group treated with beta-pyridylcarbinol only 1 out of 5 died. In the coronary arteries, the contents of both free and ester-bound cholesterol were significantly lower in the beta-pyridylcarbinol-treated animals. In a sulfinpyrazone-treated group 3 out of 8, and in a metoprolol-treated group 2 out of 5 animals died. None of these drugs reduced the accumulation of cholesterol in the coronary arteries. The rate of sudden death was 26 +/- 6% (P less than 0.05) lower in the combined group of treated animals than in the untreated ones. By regular ECG recordings, signs which could predict the fatal outcome of the experiment were looked for. Although depressed ST segments were present before death in a few animals, this was not a regular phenomenon. It is concluded that advanced coronary atherosclerosis in mini-pigs often leads to sudden death and that this animal model seems suitable for testing the potential therapeutic effects of drugs.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009540:Nicotinyl Alcohol / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013442:Sulfinpyrazone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D009540:Nicotinyl Alcohol; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D008790:Metoprolol; D013442:Sulfinpyrazone