Molecular mechanisms for arecoline against atherosclerosis / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

AIM To investigate the anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of arecoline. METHODS Fifty-eight male rats were assigned to control, model, arecoline 1 mg?kg -1 and arecoline 5 mg? [FQ(12。46,X-WZ]-kg -1 groups randomly. The rats in model and arecoline-supplied groups were fed with hypercholesterol diet. The following variables were measured: HE staining of rat aorta; serum level of TC, LDL-CHO, HDL-CHO, IL-8, ET-1 and NO; expression of eNOS protein on rat aorta; expression of MCP-1, ICAM-1, CXCR-2 and eNOS mRNA on rat aorta. RESULTS Arecoline increased plasma level of NO and the expression of eNOS protein and mRNA, decreased plasma level of IL-8 and the expression of ICAM-1, MCP-1 and CXCR-2 mRNA on rat aorta. CONCLUSION The anti-atherogenic effects of arecoline seems to be closely involved in increasing plasma level of NO and eNOS protein and mRNA expression, decrease in plasma IL-8 level and down-regulation of the expression of ICAM-1, MCP-1 and CXCR-2 genes.-