Most acute coronary syndromes result from rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. The collagen content of plaques may critically affect plaque stability. This study tested whether Icaritin (ICT), an intestinal metabolite of Epimedium-derived flavonoids, could alter the collagen synthesis/degradation balance in atherosclerotic lesions. Rabbits were fed with an atherogenic diet for four mo...

To investigate the quantitative trait loci (QTL) regulating plasma cholesterol, the female progeny of an (SMxNZB/ B1NJ)xNZB/B1NJ backcross were fed an atherogenic diet. After 18 wk, plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was measured. HDL-C concentrations were greater in NZB than in SM mice. For standard chow-fed mice, QTL were found near D5Mit370 and D18Mit34...

We examined whether the putative anti-atherogenic enzymes LCAT, paraoxonase (PON), and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) are impaired in 8 week old atherosclerosis susceptible apolipoprotein E (apoE)(-/-) and LDL receptor (LDLr)(-/-) mice and whether plasma concentrations of bioactive oxidized phospholipids accumulate in plasma. ApoE(-/-) mice had reduced (28%) LCAT activity a...

We examined whether the putative anti-atherogenic enzymes lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), paraoxonase 1 (PON) and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) are impaired in 8 week old atherosclerosis susceptible Apoe-/and Ldlr-/mice and whether plasma concentrations of bioactive oxidized phospholipids accumulate in plasma. Apoe-/mice had reduced (28%) LCAT activity and ele...

Pequi is the fruit of Caryocar brasiliense and its oil has a high concentration of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, which are anti- and pro-atherogenic agents, respectively, and of carotenoids, which give it antioxidant properties. Our objective was to study the effect of the intake of a cholesterol-rich diet supplemented with pequi oil, compared to the same diet containing soybean oi...

The effect of aspirin in the primary prevention of diet-induced atherogenesis in cynomolgus monkeys was studied. The diet consisted of 2% cholesterol and 10% butter by weight for 24 wk. Six monkeys received only the atherogenic diet and five monkeys received the diet plus aspirin, 81 mg/monkey per day. Aspirin did not affect plasma cholesterol levels or aortic atherosclerosis. Platelet aggregat...

Olive oil is the main source of dietary fatty acids in the Mediterranean region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with virgin olive oil in an experimental model with rabbits fed an atherogenic diet (saturated fat 48% of total fat). Four different groups of 10 animals each were studied: (1) normolipemic diet (NLD), (2) atherogenic diet or saturate...

Dietary flaxseed has significant anti-atherogenic effects. However, the limits of this action and its effects on vascular contractile function are not known. We evaluated the effects of flaxseed supplementation on atherosclerosis and vascular function under prolonged hypercholesterolemic conditions in New Zealand White rabbits assigned to one of four groups for 6, 8, or 16 wk of feeding: regula...

BACKGROUND Vasoconstrictor responses to serotonin are augmented in monkeys with diet-induced atherosclerosis and improve after 18 months of normal diet. We tested the hypothesis that functional improvement may occur early during regression, before evidence of structural improvement. METHODS AND RESULTS Responses of the iliac artery to serotonin were measured by quantitative angiography and a ...