title: Protective effects of CVPM on vascular endothelium in rats fed cholesterol diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cardiovascular protective mixture (CVPM) is a concoction of nine Chinese traditional medicines: Dan-shen root, Szechwan lovge rhizome, Chinese angelica, Hawthorn fruit, Safflower, Peach seed, Red peony root, earthworm, and membranous milkvetch root. These medicines are used to cure cardiovascular disease in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal models were established by feeding the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with lipid-rich forage. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was determined to monitor lipid peroxidation. The 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha)(6-keto-PGF(1alpha)) concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay to investigate the content of prostacyclin (PGI(2)). Electron microscope (JEM-1200EX) was used to observe the microstructure of the vascular endothelium. Rat aortic endothelial cell was cultured to investigate the effect of CVPM on vascular endothelial cell in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CVPM inhibited the accumulation of TC, LDL-C, and MDA in vivo, when the rats were fed with cholesterol diet. CVPM promoted synthesizing and excreting of PGI(2), since it is capable of activating the proliferation of vascular endothelium in vitro. Electron micrographs showed that CVPM had notable protective effect on the vascular endothelium and prevented the shedding of these cells from subendothelial layer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVPM could ameliorate the internal environment in which vascular endothelial cells lived, and activate the proliferation of these cells. Through these mechanisms, CVPM protect vascular endothelial cell from being harmed by excess cholesterol in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Immunology Laboratory, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yayi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Boyu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qizhen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qusheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D002784:Cholesterol; D011464:Epoprostenol