[The influence of methionine and its metabolites on the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits].
The effects of a high level of methionine on the changes of lipid and amino acid metabolism were investigated. Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups; a methionine group, which was fed a diet supplemented with 3% D, L-methionine, a Cholesterol+Methionine group, which was fed a 3% D, L-methionine and a 0.2% cholesterol diet, and a Cholesterol group which was fed a 0.2% cholesterol diet for 22 weeks. The plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, homocysteine, cysteine and serum SO4(2-) levels were measured and compared. On the first and the final day of the experiment, lipid peroxide levels in blood samples were also measured. We found that the Methionine group and the Cholesterol+Methionine group showed elevated levels of plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, homocysteine, cysteine, serum SO4(2-) and lipid peroxide compared with the Cholesterol group. More prominent fat deposits in the aorta were observed in the Methionine group and the Cholesterol+Methionine group than in the Cholesterol group. Our results indicated that the interaction of cholesterol with methionine or its derivatives plays a role in the progression of atherosclerosis.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Japan.
J
J
Koyama
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003545:Cysteine / Q000097:blood; D006711:Homocystine / Q000097:blood; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013431:Sulfates / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D013431:Sulfates; D014280:Triglycerides; D006711:Homocystine; D002784:Cholesterol; D008715:Methionine; D003545:Cysteine