title: The effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on the endothelium of the carotid artery of rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet.
abstract: The preventive and therapeutic effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits have been investigated. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups of 6 subjects each; experimental group-I (EG-I) was administered a cholesterol rich diet, experimental group-II (EG-II) was treated with EPA (300 mg/kg/d) following a cholesterol-rich diet and the control group (CG) had a standard diet. Blood samples were collected at day 0 and at the 4th and 12th weeks of EG-II to obtain serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipid-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipid-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). From each group tissue samples were collected from the carotid artery for immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Our results showed that EPA could significantly lower (p<0.001) serum TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels with a reduction of 35%; 55%; 44% and 51%, respectively. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy results revealed that endothelial damage was more prominent in EG-I when compared to EG-II. The ruptured endothelial lining and damaged cellular surface was increased in EG-I when compared to EG-II. Ultrastructural observations showed that after EPA treatment, the degeneration and cellular surface damage on the endothelium were also decreased. These biochemical and ultrastructural results suggest that EPA is a potential drug which significantly lowers the serum lipid profile and partially repairs endothelial dysfunction due to hyperlipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cayli
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sati
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seval-Celik
authors.forename: M Altug
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Bengi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yaymaci
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Berkman
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Altug
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid