title: Effect of lipanthyl on mRNA expression of endothelin-1 and nitric-oxide synthase in atherosclerotic vessel wall in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the mechanism of regression of atherosclerosis (AS) by lipanthyl.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental atherosclerotic rabbits created by damaging the abdominal aortic endothelium and feeding with high fat diet for 8 wk were then treated with lipanthyl 15 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 16 wk. Expression of endothelin (ET)-1 mRNA and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA in atherosclerotic vessel wall was measured by in situ hybridization and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After lipanthyl administration for 16 wk, ET-1 mRNA expression was reduced, and integral optical density (IOD) and area of hybridization granule were observed to be (49,113 +/- 16,868) and (2448 +/- 621) micron 2 in lipanthyl group and (65,188 +/- 10,113) and (3028 +/- 352) micron 2 in atherosclerotic group, respectively. Regarding inducible NOS mRNA expression, IOD and area were decreased by 25.5% and 53.3%, respectively, whereas endothelial NOS mRNA expression was increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Restoration of the disturbed ET-1 mRNA/NOS mRNA balance by lipanthyl might be one of its mechanisms leading to regression of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou 215007.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W X
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011345:Fenofibrate