Effect of propylthiouracil administrated in different way on the formation of atherosclerosis in rats

Objective:To investigate a simple and successful method for establishing atherosclerotic rat model.Methods:Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group(n=10);model group A(n=10):treated by 6×105 unit vitamin D and high-fat diet(containing propylthiouracil) for 90 days;model group B(n=10):treated by 6×105 unit vitamin D and high-fat diet(not containing propylthiouracil and fed by intragastric administration) for 90 days.Serum lipid and morphological change of aorta were determined after sacrifice.Results:There were 4 rats in group A dead while no rats died in the other two groups.The levels of serum total cholesterol(TC) and low density lipoprotein(LDL) in model group B were significantly higher than those in model group A(each P0.01).Staining artery by rathonum red showed that there were massive positive niduses in group B while less in group A,and sporadic in the control group.The control group almost had no morphologic changes under light microscope,while rats existed inchoate change of atherosclerosis in model group A,and rats existed typical atherosclerosis in model group B.Conclusion:Method of 6×105 unit vitamin D intraperitoneal injection,high-fat diet not containing propylthiouracil which was feed by intragastric administration is convenient and stable to establish typical atherosclerotic rat model.