title: Effect of green tea on angiogenesis and severity of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since the development of the atherosclerotic plaque requires the growth of new microvessels in the plaque itself (vasa vasorum), we postulated that green tea may exert an anti-atherogenic effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen male New Zealand white rabbits were studied for 17 weeks. All rabbits were fed an hypecholesterolemic diet. After 2 weeks of adaptation rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups. Animals in Group A were fed the hypercholesterolemic diet and received plain tap water ad libitum. Animals in Group B were fed with the same diet and furthermore received 2.5% (g/g) green tea for 17 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results the atherosclerotic lesions were more severe in Group B than in Group A specimens. Also, the number of VEGF positively stained foam cells and smooth muscle cells of Group B were significantly greater than in Group A. About 30% less plaque was found in Group A than in the control group (Group B). So, our study showed that the consumption of green tea leads to a reduction of atherosclerosis as well as a significant decrease of VEGF expression in the atherosclerotic plaque of rabbit aorta. The hypothesis that probably green tea may produce its anti-atherogenetic effect through an anti-angiogenetic mechanism needs more investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str. Goudi-Athens GR-11527, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavantzas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatziioannou
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Yanni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsakayannis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balafoutas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agrogiannis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrea
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000633:toxicity*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011817:Rabbits; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D010936:Plant Extracts; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A