Effect of Probucol on Atherosclerosis in LDLR~(-/-) Mice Fed a High-fat Diet

Objective To assess the effect of probucol on atherosclerosis in LDLR-/- mice. Methods Fourteen eight-week old male LDLR-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet for four weeks. Then the mice were randomly divided into two groups: high-fat group(n=7) or probucol group(high-fat diet plus 0.5% probucol, n = 7). After 14 weeks of diet, mice were killed, blood was collected and plasma TG, TC and HDL-C concentrations were measured. Aorta plaques were stained with oil red O and plaque area was analysed. Atherosclerosis plaque in aorta root was made into frozen sections, plaque area and collagen content was analysed by oil red O and Masson staining, respectively. Plasma IL-12p70 concentration was detected by ELISA. Results Plasma levels of TC and HDL-C in the probucol group significantly decreasd compared with those in the high-fat group(all P0. 01), whereas TG showed no significant change between two groups(P0.05). Oil red O staining showed no significant change in aorta plaque area(P0.05), but in aorta root, probucol group showed bigger plaque compared with high-fat group(P0.01). Collagen content in probucol group significant increased compared with high-fat group(P0.01). And ELISA result showed decreased plasma IL-12p70 concentration in probucol group(P0.05) Conclusion Probucol may reduce the levels of plasma TC, HDL-C and IL-12p70 and promote the progression of atherosclerosis lesion in aorta root in LDLR-/- mice fed a high-fat diet. However, Probucol may accelerate collagen deposition, which means higher aorta root plaque stability.