The beneficial influence of nifedipine on the regression of the cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits

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Abstract
Nifedipine has been implicated as an inhibitor of dietary induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. This study was designed to examine the effect of nifedipine on the regression of atherosclerotic lesions in this animal model. NZ-rabbits were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet (1.5%) for 4.8 months. A control group A was killed and the aorta removed for planimetry of the vessel wall lesions. The remaining animals were divided into two groups, group P receiving a placebo solution and group N a nifedipine solution (2 × 20 mg/day). They were maintained on a standard chow for a further 4.5 months. In the nifedipine-treated group N, sudanophilia of the aorta was reduced by more than 20% as compared to the cholesterol-fed control group A and was 50% lower than in the placebo-treated group. Total cholesterol of the aortic tissue was lowest in group N. No significant differences in plasma cholesterol, triglycerides or the platelet half-life time were observed between the placebo- and the nifedipine-treated group. These data indicate that nifedipine can stimulate regression of pre-existing atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits.