ABSTRACT
Objective: To examine the effect of Benapril on atherogenesis and the plaque rupture in rabbits.Methods: Thirty four healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups.Group C (control group) was fed normal diet for 10 weeks,group HL fed 1% cholesterol diet,group B fed 1% cholesterol diet and Benapril 5 mg/d.Ten rabbits of plaque rupture group were fed 1% cholesterol diet for 10 weeks with atherosclerosis induced by left carotid iliac damage.Ten weeks after the initiation of the diet,an angioplasty was performed.After angioplasty,the surviving rabbits( n =10) were randomized to receive benapril(5 mg/d,each) supplementation in drinking(B group, n =4) or no treatment(untreated group, n =4). The levels of CEC were measured by morphometrical counts at different periods(the 5th week,the 10th week).Before and 5,10 weeks after experiment,fasting blood samples were collected for serum total cholesterol(TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL C),and triglyceride(TG) assay.The levels of plasma circulating endothelial cells(CEC) were measured by morphometrical counts and the levels of plasma von Willebrand factor(vWF) were determined by ELISA.After sacrificing the separated, entire aortas were stained with oil red O and then processed for histological examination;planimetry was done with a computer system.Endothelial cells were confined by the presence of Factor Ⅷ related antigen as the specific cell marker.Results: The serum TC,TG,LDL C increased progressively in group B and group HL,but the levels of vWF in group HL were significantly higher than that in group B on the 5th and 10th respetively( P