[Effect of vitamin E on myosin light chain kinase activity and endothelial permeability of the artery in atherosclerotic rabbit].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of vitamin E (Vit E) on the myosin light chain kinase(MLCK) activity and the endothelial permeability of the artery in atherosclerotic rabbits.


METHODS
The MLCK activity of rabbit artery was measured by incorporation of gamma-(32)P. The endothelial permeability was accessed by immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
The model of atherosclerosis was established after rabbits were fed with cholesterol for four weeks. The activity of MLCK increased markedly, and there was significantly statistical difference compared with the normal control (P<0.05). When the rabbits were fed with cholesterol for twelve weeks or with cholesterol and Vit E for twelve weeks, the activity of MLCK did not change markedly, and there was no statistical difference compared with the normal control, respectively (P>0.05). The permeability of arterial wall was increased after the rabbits were fed with cholesterol for four weeks, and the permeability increased even more obviously after the rabbits were fed with cholesterol for twelve weeks. The permeability appeared to be decreased when Vit E was added into the cholesterol feeding.


CONCLUSIONS
The change in integrity of arterial wall may be associated with the increase of the activity of MLCK. Vit E may decrease the MLCK activity. Vit E may decrease the endothelial permeability of atherosclerotic rabbits.
Zhu
Hua-qing
HQ
Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Department of Biochemistry, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
Ren
Bin
B
Xiong
Jiang-xia
JX
Hu
Ruo-lei
RL
Liu
Xiao-ying
XY
Wang
Xue
X
Zhang
Su-mei
SM
Liu
Hui-lan
HL
Jiang
Zhi-kui
ZK
Zhou
Qing
Q
Gui
Shu-yu
SY
Wang
Yuan
Y
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000187:drug effects*; D010539:Permeability; D011817:Rabbits; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase