title: Effect of policosanol on circulating endothelial cells in experimental models in Sprague-Dawley rats and in rabbits.
abstract: The effect of policosanol on circulating endothelial cells has been studied in different experimental models with endothelium damage. Oral administration of 25 mg kg-1 policosanol to Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in significant protection of the endothelial lining against the desquamating effect of citrate. Oral administration of 5 mg kg-1 policosanol to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) resulted in a significant reduction of circulating endothelial cells compared with controls. Moreover, comparison between groups revealed a lower frequency of aortic lesions in policosanol-treated animals than in controls. On the other hand, administration of 5 mg kg-1 policosanol to rabbits with intimal hyperplasia induced by cuff placement in the carotid artery resulted in levels of circulating endothelial cells significantly lower than in controls. These results demonstrate the protective effect of policosanol in different experimental models and suggest its potential for endothelial protection.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Más
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mesa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D002951:Citrates / Q000633:toxicity; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000077559:Sodium Citrate
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002951:Citrates; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; C080710:policosanol; D000077559:Sodium Citrate