Effects of blood lipids and homocysteine on atherosclerotic development in rabbits

Objective To investigate the effects of hyperlipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia on the development of atherosclerosis.Method The animals were randomized as control(6 rabbits) group and model group(10 rabbits). The control group were fed on common food, while the model group were fed on the common one together with cholesterol, lard and methionine in order to establish the model of atherosclerosis. Blood was taken in the 4th and 8th week respectively to determine associated index of serum. At the end of the 8th week, the animals were put to death to establish pathological models of aorta.Result At the end of the 4th week,the endothelin in the serum of the model group was much higher(P0.05) and the ratio of 6-keto-prostaglindin F 1α to thromboxame B 2 was much lower compared with the control group(P0.01). At the end of the 8th week, the concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol and homocysteine in the serum of the model group increased rapidly compared with the control group(P0.05).The aorta endothelium of the model group had atherosclerosis to varing degrees, while the control group had no changes. Conclusion Combined use of hyperlipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia have synergism in the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits.