title: Antiatherosclerotic effects of oral naftidrofuryl in cholesterol-fed rabbits involve inhibition of neutrophil function.
abstract: We investigated the action of oral naftidrofuryl, a serotonin (5-HT2)antagonist, on atheromatous plaque formation, endothelial function, and neutrophil activity in cholesterol-fed (1% for 12 weeks) rabbits. Cholesterol feeding caused almost complete (84 +/- 4%) coverage of the aortic surface with atheromas and a marked intimal thickening. The endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh 1 nM-10 microM) and substance P (30 nM) was considerably reduced, whereas the relaxing effect to the endothelium-independent nitric oxide donor linsidomine (SIN-1) (100 microM) was unchanged. Treatment of hypercholesterolemic rabbits with naftidrofuryl (50 mg/kg body weight) resulted in a marked (54 +/- 6%, p < 0.05) reduction in aortic plaque formation. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was significantly improved in rings of both thoracic aorta: 33 +/- 5 versus 14 +/- 5% (p < 0.05) and abdominal aorta 68 +/- 9 versus 37 +/- 10% (p < 0.05). Similar results were obtained with substance P, but the responses to SIN-1 were unchanged. Zymosan-induced, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was markedly stimulated in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Naftidrofuryl reduced this hyperreactivity to that of control rabbits. There was no change by naftidrofuryl in any of these parameters in control rabbits, precluding a direct action of the compound in nonhypercholesterolemic conditions. These data demonstrate significant endothelium-protective actions of long-term oral naftidrofuryl in cholesterol-fed rabbits that involve inhibition of cholesterol-induced neutrophil activation.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kienbaum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hohlfeld
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarbia
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schrör
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008165:Luminol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009257:Nafronyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013373:Substance P; D009257:Nafronyl; D008165:Luminol; C002385:linsidomine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D015054:Zymosan; D002784:Cholesterol; D008981:Molsidomine; D000109:Acetylcholine