Correlation between plasma nitric oxide and atherosclerotic lesion in rabbits / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT:Objective To analyze the correlation between plasma nitric oxide (NO)level and atherosclerotic lesion in high cholesterol-fed (HCD ) rabbits.Methods Twenty male Japanese white rabbits were divided randomly into two groups,which were fed with normal diet (control group,n =10)or HCD (experimental group, n =10 )for 1 6 weeks.At the end of the experiment,plasma lipid and NO levels were measured.The gross atherosclerotic lesions in each group were detected by Sudan IV staining while intimal lesion area was measured by hematoxylin/eosin (HE)and elastica van gieson (EVG).Moreover,the macrophages (MΦ)and smooth muscle cells (SMC)were detected by immunohistochemical staining.The correlation analysis was made to reveal the relationship between atherosclerotic lesions and plasma NO level.Results Compared with those in control group, the total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)and NO levels all increased significantly in experimental group.Atherosclerotic lesions appeared on the vascular wall in the latter group.The area of atherosclerotic lesions and MΦ in the plaque had a positive association with plasma NO level. Conclusion There is a relationship between plasma NO level and the size of HCD-induced atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits.Meanwhile,the MΦ positive area in the atherosclerotic plaque is also associated with plasma NO level in cholesterol-fed rabbits,suggesting that plasma NO level may be associated with the occurrence and progress of early atherosclerosis.