Antioxidants attenuate atherosclerotic plaque development in a balloon-denuded and -radiated hypercholesterolemic rabbit.
BACKGROUND
Oxidation of lipoproteins is considered to be a key contributor to atherogenesis. Antioxidants are potential antiatherogenic agents because they can inhibit lipoprotein oxidation. Radiation has been shown to increase oxidative stress leading to increased atherogenesis. This study is designed to test the potential of antioxidants to inhibit atherosclerotic plaque progression in balloon-denuded and -radiated rabbits.


RESULTS
Two groups of New Zealand white rabbits (n=36) were fed with 1% cholesterol diet (control diet) or with 1% cholesterol diet containing a mixture of various antioxidants for 1 week. Iliac arteries in all the animals were balloon denuded and continued to fed with 0.15% cholesterol diet or 0.15% cholesterol diet containing antioxidants (antioxidant diet). Four weeks after balloon denudation one iliac artery in 12 animals from each group was radiated and all the animals were continued to be fed with the same diet. Four weeks after radiation animals were sacrificed and morphometric analysis of iliac arteries (n=12) in nonradiated and radiated animals were performed. Plaque area (PA) in the rabbits that were fed with cholesterol diet is 0.2+/-0.12 mm2, and it is increased by 2.75-fold (P<.05) in the radiated arteries of animals fed with cholesterol diet. Plaque area in the animals fed with antioxidant diet is 50% less then the one in the animals fed with cholesterol diet. Similarly, plaque area in radiated arteries of the animals fed with antioxidant diet is 50% less then the animals fed with cholesterol diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Antioxidants significantly attenuate atherosclerotic plaque progression in balloon-injured and -radiated hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Leborgne
Laurent
L
Cardiovascular Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street, NW, Suite 4B-1, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
Fournadjiev
Jana
J
Pakala
Rajbabu
R
Dilcher
Christian
C
Cheneau
Edouard
E
Wolfram
Roswitha
R
Hellinga
David
D
Seaborn
Rufus
R
O'Tio
Fermin
F
Waksman
Ron
R
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000009:adverse effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries*; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits
D000975:Antioxidants; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes; D002784:Cholesterol