Effects of aspirin on atherosclerosis and the cyclooxygenase-2 expression in atherosclerotic rabbits.
Chin Med J (Engl)
; 119(21): 1808-14, 2006 Nov 05.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17097036
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular inflammatory disease. Aspirin is a mainstay in the prevention of vascular complications of atherosclerosis. In this study, the effectiveness of aspirin in suppressing atherosclerosis and the inflammation process was evaluated in rabbits fed with a high fat diet.METHODS:
Eighteen male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups control group, untreated cholesterol-fed group, aspirin treated cholesterol-fed group, which were fed for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the aorta was harvested for pathologic morphology observation. Immunohistochemical analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), macrophage and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) was performed. The statistical analysis was performed by the statistical program SPSS10.0.RESULTS:
The aorta plaque/intima size (P/I) by pathologic morphology observation was 0%, (59.6 +/- 13.7)% and (36.3 +/- 16.5)% in the control, untreated cholesterol-fed group and aspirin treated group, respectively. The maximum plaque thickness, the degree of artery stenosis and the proportion of the intimal circumference occupied by atheroma of the 3 groups were significantly different from each other (P < 0.01). The expression of COX-2 and macrophage in plaque of the aspirin treated group were decreased compared with that in untreated cholesterol-fed group. However, no difference was found in the expression of VSMC between the aspirin treated and the untreated cholesterol-fed group.CONCLUSION:
The mechanism of atherosclerosis suppression by aspirin in cholesterol-fed rabbits is related to the inhibition of COX-2 expression together with the reduced inflammation followed by, but not related to the hypolipidemic effects.
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Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aspirina
/
Aterosclerosis
/
Ciclooxigenasa 2
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Año:
2006
Tipo del documento:
Article