Objective: To study the effects of Bushen Ningxin recipe (BNR) on atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rabbits.
Methods: Twenty-six female New Zealand white rabbits of three months old were randomly divided into four groups, the normal group, the sham operation group, the control group (ovariectomized) and the treated group (ovariectomized and treated with BNR). All rabbits, except the normal group, were fed with high-cholesterol diet starting from two weeks after operation, and to the treated group BNR was given additionally for 3 months. Levels of blood lipid (TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C) and NO were measured at the end of the 12th week, and at the same time, histomorphological and pathological examination of aorta under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the ratio of atherosclerotic area of lesion/endothelium ratio (AL/AE) and thickness of endothelium/medium ratio (TE/TM) were estimated using image analyzer.
Results: No significant difference was found in levels of blood lipid between groups, except those in the normal group. As compared with the control group, in the treated group, level of serum NO was higher, AL/AE and TE/TM were lower and the pathological changes of aorta was milder.
Conclusion: BNR could inhibit the atherosclerosis formation in ovariectomized rabbits, it showed protection on vascular endothelial cells.