title: Effects of policosanol chronically administered in male monkeys (Macaca arctoides).
abstract: Policosanol, administered orally, has shown a cholesterol-lowering effect in different experimental models. Because lipid-lowering therapy is administered chronically, it is necessary to know the effects of these drugs after long-term administration. 18 adult male Macaca arctoides monkeys were used to study the cholesterol-lowering effects and possible toxicity produced by oral administration of policosanol (0.25, 2.5 and 25 mg/kg) for 54 wk. After 8 wk, a significant reduction of serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed in policosanol-treated animals when compared with the controls; this effect persisted throughout the study. The animals' behavioural repertoire, physical condition, haematology and blood biochemistry, as well as spermiogram analysis and electrocardiography, were monitored during the study; ophthalmological and pathological anatomy examinations were performed at the end of the administration period. No drug-related toxicity was detected by any examination. The results gave further evidence of the marked and persistent cholesterol-lowering effects of policosanol that had been observed in different experimental models. There was a significant reduction of spontaneous aortic atherosclerotic lesions in treated animals compared with controls. Policosanol (0.25-25 mg/kg) administered orally for 54 wk brought about a persistent reduction in blood cholesterol levels and was very safe and well tolerated during long-term administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana City, Cuba.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Echenique
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Más
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menéndez
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Amor
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fraga
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sotolongo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laguna
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; C080710:policosanol; D002784:Cholesterol