Improvement of metabolic disorders and visceral fat obesity by the beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist (R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2 -(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propyl]-phenoxyacetate hydrobromide (BRL35135A) in genetically obese rodents.

The effects of BRL35135A ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2 -(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propyl]-phenoxyacetate hydrobromide), a beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist, on visceral and subcutaneous fat weight and metabolic disorders were studied in genetically obese C57BL/KsJ db/db mice and Zucker fa/fa rats. In db/db mice, four weeks of oral administration of BRL35135A (0.5 and 5 mg/kg/day) decreased body weight gain and reduced white fat weight. The rates of reduction of white fat weight were in the order mesenteric fat > retroperitoneal fat > subcutaneous fat. In fa/fa rats, daily administration of BRL35135A (0.05 mg/kg/day)) for 6 weeks reduced the visceral white fat weight/total energy intake ratio, particularly for mesenteric fat, without any clear effect on body weight gain. This tendency of the compound to exert effects on visceral fat was consistent with the findings that the effect of BRL37344 ((R*,R*)-(+/-) -methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propyl]-phenoxyacet ic acid), an active metabolite of BRL35135A, on the lipolytic activity of isolated adipocytes and the tissue concentration of [14C]BRL37344 in male Wistar rats were each greater in visceral fat than in subcutaneous fat. Moreover, BRL35135A at 0.05 mg/kg/day elevated serum insulin levels and improved hyperglycemia in db/db mice without reducing body weight gain, whereas at doses of 0.5 and 5 mg/kg/day it ameliorated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and tended to decrease serum insulin levels. In fa/fa rats, BRL35135A (0.005 mg/kg/day) was also effective in improving hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertriglyceridemia without any effect on body weight gain or fat distribution. These findings suggest that the improvement of metabolic disorders by BRL35135A may be due to improvement in insulin resistance as well as reduction of visceral fat weight.

Stereoselective action of (R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino] propyl]-phenoxyacetic acid (BRL37344) on beta-adrenoceptors and metabolic chiral inversion.

Stereoisomers of BRL37344 ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2 -(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propyl]-phenoxyacetic acid), a beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist, were synthesized and separated with good resolution by derivatization with 1-anthroyl cyanide prior to chiral HPLC. Agonist effects on rat right atria, guinea pig trachea, and rat brown adipocytes were due principally to the (RR) isomer, while other isomers (SS, RS, and SR) were much less potent or inactive. Since the racemate (RR +/- SS) was half as potent as the (RR) isomer in all specimens tested, the (SS) isomer does not appear to have antagonistic effects. When [14C](RR)BRL35135A ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propy l] -phenoxyacetate hydrobromide), the HBr salt of the methyl ester of BRL37344, was administered orally to male Wistar rats, both the (RR) and (SR) isomers of [14C]BRL37344 were detected in plasma, while only the (SS) isomer of [14C]BRL37344 was detected after [14C](SS)BRL35135A administration. These findings indicate that there is clear stereoselectivity in the effects of BRL37344 on beta-adrenoceptors, and that stereoselective chiral inversion from the RR isomer to the SR isomer occurs in rats.

Effects of M16209, a new antihyperglycemic agent, on insulin sensitivity in vivo: euglycemic clamp studies in rats.

The effects of M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin) on the in vivo insulin sensitivity of rats were studied by euglycemic clamp methods after 1 week of administration (10 or 100 mg/kg/d). M16209 increased both the glucose infusion rate (GIR) and metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of 3-[3H]-glucose, but did not suppress hepatic glucose output. M16209 also increased the [3H]-2-deoxyglucose utilization rate, rate of incorporation of [14C]-glucose into glycogen, and glycolytic flux in the soleus and red gastrocnemius muscles, but not in the extensor digitorum lungus and white gastrocnemius muscles. M16209 affected neither the [3H]-2-deoxyglucose utilization rate nor the rate of incorporation of [14C]-glucose into lipids in epididymal adipose tissue. In the soleus muscle, M16209 decreased glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) content, but did not affect fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-BP) content. Moreover, M16209 increased glycogen synthase-I activity and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-BP) content in the soleus muscle. These results suggest that M16209 increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, particularly oxidative muscles, through potentiation of insulin action on glycogen synthesis and glycolysis. Glycogen synthase and phosphofructokinase (PFK) appear to be major targets of the action of M16209.

Ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate modifies the biochemical properties of rat very low-density lipoprotein.

The biochemical properties of serum very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were investigated in rats given highly purified all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate (EPA), an ethyl-ester derivative (EPA-E). The elution time (gel filtration) of VLDL from EPA-E-treated serum was increased significantly compared with that of the control. EPA-E-treated VLDL isolated by ultracentrifugation exhibited a marked decrease in triglyceride content with a relative increase in cholesterol. In treated VLDL, a significant increase in the ratio of apo E/apo C was observed. There was a remarkable increase in the content of EPA in all the fractions of phospholipids, cholesteryl esters and triglycerides after EPA-E treatment, resulting in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich VLDL. EPA-E also reduced the incorporation of [14C]oleate into triglycerides in hepatic microsomes and the rate of hepatic triglyceride secretion. Moreover, lipoprotein lipase activity in heparin-injected plasma was increased in rats given EPA-E without there being an effect on hepatic triglyceride lipase activity. These findings indicate that EPA-E exerts an inhibitory effect on hepatic triglyceride synthesis/secretion and a stimulatory effect on triglyceride degradation, resulting in a reduction in particle size and an increase in the ratio of apo E/apo C. Triglyceride-poor and EPA-rich VLDL may rapidly be converted into the density of intermediate low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein and/or may be absorbed into the liver rapidly.

Effects of novel aldose reductase inhibitors, M16209 and M16287, on streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in rats.

We investigated the effects of novel aldose reductase inhibitors, M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin) and M16287 (1-(3-chlorobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin), on neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. Both compounds (3-100 mg/kg per day, p.o.) dose dependently improved the decreased motor nerve conduction velocity in the sciatic nerve during a 14-day treatment period. These compounds also partially ameliorated the diabetes-induced histological changes in the sciatic nerve. A distinct increase in sorbitol content and a slight decrease in myo-inositol content was observed in the sciatic nerve of STZ diabetic rats, and the sorbitol accumulation was dose dependently suppressed by treatment with M16209 and M16287. Treatment started at an earlier period was more effective in the suppression of sorbitol accumulation. There was a significant correlation between motor nerve conduction velocity and nerve sorbitol content, whereas there was none between motor nerve conduction velocity and myo-inositol content. The present study indicates that M16209 and M16287 are potent aldose reductase inhibitors expected to be useful for the treatment of diabetic complications.

Mechanism of the lipid-lowering effect of ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate.

The effect of highly purified ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate (EPA-E) on cholesterol metabolism in rats was examined to clarify the mechanism of its hypolipidemic action. Pretreatment with EPA-E reduced the increase in plasma radioactivity after oral administration of [14C]cholesterol. The conversion of [14C]3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) to [14C]mevalonic acid was significantly inhibited in liver microsomes obtained from rats treated with EPA-E. There was an increase in free cholesterol and a marked rise in the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content of phospholipids in these microsomes. EPA-E restored the suppression of biliary secretion induced by feeding a casein-rich diet to bile duct-cannulated rats. Furthermore, when serum lipoprotein (d < 1.210) from rats given EPA-E was i.v. injected into normal rats, a more rapid elimination of cholesterol was observed as compared to that in rats injected with lipoprotein from EPA-E-untreated rats. This rapid clearance was found in the lipoprotein fractions of d < 1.006 and 1.006 < d < 1.063. These findings suggest that EPA-E has an inhibitory effect on intestinal cholesterol absorption and hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis, and an enhancing effect on hepatic biliary secretion. EPA-E would also seem to cause modification of serum lipoproteins, whereby their clearance from the serum is increased.

Antihyperglycemic effects of M16209, a novel aldose reductase inhibitor, in normal and diabetic rats.

The effect of a single oral administration of M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-yl-sulfonyl)hydantoin), a novel aldose reductase inhibitor, on serum glucose was investigated. In normal rats, M16209 (100 mg/kg) had a weak hypoglycemic effect but markedly stimulated the disappearance of serum glucose in intravenous glucose tolerance tests. In diabetic rats, M16209 (100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the hyperglycemia of streptozotocin-induced, mildly diabetic rats and stimulated serum glucose disappearance in neonatally streptozotocin-induced, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats in glucose tolerance tests. Additionally, M16209 augmented insulin secretion in glucose-loaded, normal and NIDDM rats and restored the reduced serum insulin in streptozotocin-induced, mildly diabetic rats. M16209, however, showed no hypoglycemic effect in severely diabetic rats. In contrast, gliclazide, a sulfonylurea, showed a much more potent hypoglycemic effect in normal rats than in mildly diabetic rats. These results suggest that M16209 suppresses hypoglycemia through augmentation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The antihyperglycemic activity of M16209, combined with its potent aldose reductase inhibiting activity, is expected to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetic complications.

Effects of M16209 on insulin secretion in isolated, perfused pancreases of normal and diabetic rats.

We investigated the stimulatory effect of M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-yl-sulfonyl)hydantoin), a novel aldose reductase inhibitor, on insulin secretion using isolated, perfused pancreases of rats. In the pancreases from normal rats, M16209 (100 microM) greatly augmented glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, but showed no effect on unstimulated insulin secretion at 2.8 mM glucose. In contrast, gliclazide (10 microM), a sulfonylurea, strongly enhanced both glucose-stimulated and unstimulated insulin secretion. Sorbinil and epalrestat, potent aldose reductase inhibitors, had no stimulatory effect on insulin secretion. M16209 (100 microM) improved appreciably the decreased insulin response to 22.2 mM glucose and enhanced slightly unstimulated insulin secretion in the pancreases of rats with neonatally streptozotocin-induced, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Gliclazide (10 microM), however, failed to affect the pancreases of NIDDM rats. Furthermore, M16209 showed no appreciable effect on ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels in pancreatic beta-cells. These results suggest that M16209, unlike sulfonylureas, selectively enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in both normal and NIDDM rats through a direct action on the pancreas. The site of action remains unknown, but the inhibition of aldose reductase or the ATP-sensitive K+ channels is unlikely to be involved.

5-Hydroxydecanoate inhibits ATP-sensitive K+ channel currents in guinea-pig single ventricular myocytes.

We investigated the effect of 5-hydroxydecanoate, a novel antiarrhythmic agent, on the electrical activity of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. The outward K+ current increased by lowering the intracellular ATP concentration (0.5 mM) was efficiently blocked by 5-hydroxydecanoate when recording in the whole cell configuration with the application of voltage ramps. The increase in the time-independent outward K+ current induced by reducing intracellular ATP to 0 mM was also blocked by 5-hydroxydecanoate (10 or 100 microM) and by tolbutamide (1 mM). Using the single channel recording technique, we found that 5-hydroxydecanoate blocked ATP-sensitive K+ channels when its channel open probability was increased by 1 mM ATP together with 1 mM ADP or by an intracellular pH of 6.6. These conditions are well documented to reflect metabolic changes in the early stages of myocardial ischemic attack. These results suggest that 5-hydroxydecanoate could inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channels, resulting in an antiarrhythmic effect specifically on ischemic hearts.

A novel quinolinone diuretic, M12285, and its activation mechanism through sulfate conjugation.

The diuretic activity of a quinolinone oxime diuretic, M12285, was examined after renal arterial, i.v. and portal injection in rats. M12285 injected into the renal artery at a dose of 1 mg/kg caused no diuretic effect, whereas i.v. and portal injections induced marked diuresis dose dependently. The minimum effective dose with portal injection was lower (1 mg/kg) than that with i.v. injection (3 mg/kg) and the start of the effect was faster with portal injection. These results indicated that some metabolic modification in the liver is necessary for the diuretic activity to appear. Accordingly, we performed in situ rat liver perfusion with M12285 and obtained several metabolites. Renal arterial injection of each fractionated metabolite of M12285 revealed that all the diuretic activity derived from one of these metabolites. From IR and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) measurements, the chemical structure of this active metabolite was assumed to be a sulfate-conjugated form of M12285 at the oxime moiety. Based on this tentative chemical structure, we synthesized the oxime sulfate of M12285 (potassium salt, M17000) and confirmed the identity of IR and 1HNMR spectra. Administration of M17000 into the renal artery induced apparent diuresis in a dose-dependent manner in both rats and dogs. These results indicate that the oxime sulfate of M12285 is responsible for the diuretic activity of M12285. Therefore, we synthesized several derivatives of M17000 and confirmed their possible therapeutic value as a novel family of diuretics, namely quinolinone oxime sulfonic acids.

Amelioration of insulin resistance in genetically obese rodents by M16209, a new antidiabetic agent.

Improvement of metabolic disorders by M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzofuran-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin), an antidiabetic agent, was studied in genetically obese Zucker fa/fa rats and C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. In fa/fa rats oral administration of M16209 (30 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 7 days dose dependently improved hyperinsulinemia without affecting body weight. Oral glucose loading (2 g glucose/kg body weight) after 10 days of administration to fa/fa rats revealed that M16209 significantly improved glucose tolerance both 30 and 60 min after glucose loading, but did not affect preload serum glucose levels. At one day after 13 days of administration of M16209, the serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and free fatty acid were clearly lower in treated fa/fa rats than those in untreated rats. In C57BL/6J ob/ob mice, M16209 given for 28 days at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg/day improved hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia without affecting body weight. In a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study in fa/fa rats, administration of M16209 for 7 days at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day significantly normalized the decreased metabolic clearance rate but did not show any effect on the augmented hepatic glucose output. These findings demonstrate that improvement of metabolic disorders in genetically obese rodents by M16209 is due to amelioration of insulin resistance in peripheral tissues.

Onset age-dependent variations of three islet specific autoantibodies in Japanese IDDM patients.

The age related incidence rate of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus shows a bimodal distribution, not only in Caucasians but also in Japanese. To evaluate the onset age-related autoimmune profile at presentation in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibody, islet cell antibody (ICA), and insulin autoantibody (IAA) were measured in 137 newly diagnosed Japanese IDDM patients with onset ages between 0-29 years. The prevalence of GAD autoantibody was significantly increased from the lowest (32%) in the 0-5 years onset age group to 75% in the 13-19 years onset age group (P < 0.05), whereas the IAA prevalence significantly decreased from the peak (48%) in the 6-12 years onset age group to 10% in the 20-29 years onset age group (P < 0.05). The ICA prevalence was increased from the lowest (32%) in the 0-5 years onset age group to the highest (53%) in the 20-29 years onset age group similar to that for the GAD autoantibody. Such results demonstrate that there was age-related autoimmune characteristics at presentation of IDDM in Japanese as well as in Caucasians.

A cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor modulates the blocking action of ATP and 5-hydroxydecanoate on the ATP-sensitive K+ channel.

We studied the blocking mechanism of 5-hydroxydecanoate, a novel antiarrhythmic agent, on the ATP-sensitive K+ channel in the single ventricular myocytes using the inside-out patch clamp technique. The channel activity in response to 5-hydroxydecanoate varied with each membrane patch corresponding to the sensitivity to ATP. In this condition the exogenous application of cAMP or cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) obviously recovered the ATP-sensitive K+ channel activity after channel deactivation. By contrast, in membrane patches exhibited low sensitivity to ATP, endogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) depressed the channel activity and restored the inhibitory action of 5-hydroxydecanoate and ATP on the channel. These results suggest that PKA-PKI system is involved in the regulatory mechanism of gating activity of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel and the blocking action of 5-hydroxydecanoate and ATP appears to be exerted by potentiating the inhibitory action of PKI on the channel.

Synthesis and diuretic activity of bicyclic fused heterocycles containing oxime-O-sulfonic acid moiety.

In order to investigate the origin of the loop-type diuretic activity of M17055 (1), several variants (3-9) were designed and synthesized by modifying the quinolinone skeleton, and their diuretic activities were compared with the lead 1 and furosemide in dogs. It was found that the negative charge distribution pattern afforded by the dispositional arrangement of the 4-oxime-O-sulfonic acid and 1-N-acyl carbonyl moiety attached to the tetrahydropyridine ring system is inevitable for the development of the activity, which strongly supports the previously proposed model for the active site of the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter. Also reported is the first synthesis of the dihydrothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-7(4H)-one ring system required in the synthesis of compound 9.

[Effects of urinastatin on an energy metabolism disorder during shock].

We investigated the effect of urinastatin on energy metabolism disorder during shock. Intravenous administration of urinastatin at the dose of 50,000 U/kg ameliorated the decrease in total adenine nucleotide (TA) levels and in energy charge (EC) of liver and pancreas during traumatic-shock induced by the Noble-Collip drum method in rats. Urinastatin, at a concentration of 3,000 U/ml, suppressed the decrease in EC of rat liver slices exposed to the medium including 10% serum obtained from traumatic-shock rats. Aprotinin showed a similar effect. Depression in respiratory activity of liver mitochondria exposed to the shock rat serum was also ameliorated by 1,000 U/ml of urinastatin, but aprotinin failed to reverse this depression. In the isolated rat livers perfused with normal rat serum, urinastatin at the concentration of 3,000 U/ml did not affect ATP and TA levels and EC. These results suggest that, unlike aprotinin, urinastatin ameliorates the depression of energy metabolism in liver during shock without affecting normal energy metabolism, probably by antagonizing the actions of depressant factors released into blood during the shock state and by protecting against the decrease in the adenine nucleotide pool.

Antiatherogenic action of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in multiple oral doses.

The possible antiatherogenic action of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was pharmacologically investigated using purified and ethylesterified fish oil containing 75% EPA (EPA-E) in multiple oral doses in rats and rabbits. EPA-E showed dose-dependent prevention of thrombus formation in a vascular shunt or sudden death caused by arachidonic acid injection in rats. EPA-E in daily doses ranging from 3 to 30 mg/kg slightly altered platelet aggregability and prostacyclin-like activity generated from arterial ring preparations of rats, but these alterations were not statistically significant. Further, EPA-E showed no effect on blood viscosity of rats. In cholesterol-fed rabbits, EPA-E in daily doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg moderately lowered the levels of plasma cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein, triglyceride and phospholipid, but these changes showed neither dose-dependency nor time-dependency. In this experiment, EPA-E moderately altered atherogenic plaque formation and platelet aggregability, but these alterations were not statistically significant. EPA-E showed no effect on prostacyclin-like activity generated from arterial ring preparations and blood viscosity of cholesterol-fed rabbits. It is, therefore, proposed that the antithrombotic action of EPA-E may be partially related to its effects on platelet aggregability and prostacyclin generation, but the major mechanism remains unclear.

Uptake of human urinary trypsin inhibitor by the kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1.

We investigated the uptake of human urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) by the kidney epithelial cells, LLC-PK1. Indirect immunogold techniques with an electron microscope demonstrated the localization of UTI within the cells after an incubation during which UTI was added to the apical side. Immunoreactivities were found in endocytic vesicles, vacuoles and lysosomes. Subsequently, we tried to characterize the property of the uptake of UTI using the fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled UTI (FITC-UTI). FITC-UTI uptake was decreased by an incubation with an excess of unlabelled UTI and showed concentration-dependent saturation. This process was markedly suppressed during the incubation at 4 degrees C. The uptake was significantly lessened with 2,4-dinitrophenol and antimycin A, inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation, and colchicine, a microtubule-depolymerizing agent. These results indicate that exogenous UTI is internalized by LLC-PK1 cells through an endocytic pathway. From uptake studies, it is suggested that an adsorptive process is partially involved in the mechanisms of endocytosis.

Beneficial effect of a novel diuretic, M17055, on blood pressure and cardiovascular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We investigated the effects of a novel diuretic, M17055, on blood pressure and cardiovascular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). M17055 was orally administered once a day for 24 consecutive days to 14-week-old male SHR. M17055 at doses of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day exerted a dose-related diuretic and antihypertensive effect during the treatment. The weight of the left ventricle normalized by body weight on the following day of the last dosage was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced by M17055 at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of M17055 on cardiac hypertrophy was more potent (P < 0.01) than that of captopril, when the comparison was performed at the doses of M17055 and captopril inducing the same extent of blood-pressure decrement. Vascular hypertrophy was evaluated by the media/lumen ratio (M/L) in the thoracic aorta and the first branch of the superior mesenteric artery. In the aorta, M/L was slightly, but not significantly, decreased by M17055 at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day, whereas it was decreased significantly (P < 0.01) by captopril. In the mesenteric artery, the ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by M17055 at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day. These results suggest that M17055 possesses beneficial properties for the clinical treatment of hypertension.

Effects of ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate on the physical properties of arterial walls in high cholesterol diet-fed rabbits.

The effects of ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate (EPA-E) on in vivo physical properties of arteriosclerotic aorta and femoral artery in high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rabbits were studied. The aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) of rabbits fed HCD for 12 weeks (control group) tended to be higher than that of rabbits fed a normal diet (normal group). Because the PWVs in HCD-fed rabbits administered orally with 30 and 300 mg/kg/day EPA-E were significantly lower than the PWV of the control group, the distensibility of arteriosclerotic aorta was improved with administration of EPA-E. The stiffness parameter (beta) value as an in vivo indicator of arteriosclerosis was significantly higher in the control group than in the normal group and improved with administration of EPA-E to almost the same level as that of the normal group. The beta-values were in significant negative correlation with medial elastin content and medial smooth muscle cell (SMC) density in thoracic aorta and in positive correlation with the free cholesterol content in abdominal aortic SMC. On the other hand, they were not correlated with either the cross-sectional area of intimal thickening lesions or the plasma lipid levels measured simultaneously. The femoral PWVs were, like those in the aorta, higher in the control group as compared with the normal group, and the changes were improved with administration of EPA-E. These results show that EPA-E improved the in vivo distensibility of arteriosclerotic arteries in HCD-fed rabbits.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)