ROLE OF ENDOTHELIUM AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN INTIMAL THICKENING AND LIPID-ACCUMULATION

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 95  (1) , 131-158
Abstract
In experiments testing the hypothesis that persistent absence of endothelium favors intimal thickening, lipid accumulation and atherosclerosis, rabbit aortas were de-endothelialized with a balloon catheter at Day O. Initially, all rabbits were fed a diet low in lipid. Some rabbits (Group I) were continued on a diet low in lipid for 8-20 wk after de-endothelialization. Beginning 4-9 wk after de-endothelialization, other rabbits were fed semisynthetic lipid-rich diets (Group II) or cholesterol-supplemented diets (Group III) for 4-20 wk. Lipid accumulation in all groups was significantly greater in the re-endothelialized intima than in adjacent intima lacking an endothelial lining. In aortas of Groups I, II and III the degree of intimal thickening was significantly greater in re-endothelialized areas than in adjacent areas lacking endothelium. Intimal thickness was enhanced in re-endothelialized areas of hypercholesterolemic rabbits of Group III compared with normocholesterolemic rabbits of Group I but not in areas lacking endothelium. Apparently intima covered by regenerated endothelium is significantly thicker and more likely to accumulate lipid.

This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit: