The effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on the endothelium of the carotid artery of rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet

Histol Histopathol. 2010 Feb;25(2):141-51. doi: 10.14670/HH-25.141.

Abstract

The preventive and therapeutic effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits have been investigated. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups of 6 subjects each; experimental group-I (EG-I) was administered a cholesterol rich diet, experimental group-II (EG-II) was treated with EPA (300 mg/kg/d) following a cholesterol-rich diet and the control group (CG) had a standard diet. Blood samples were collected at day 0 and at the 4th and 12th weeks of EG-II to obtain serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipid-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipid-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). From each group tissue samples were collected from the carotid artery for immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Our results showed that EPA could significantly lower (p<0.001) serum TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels with a reduction of 35%; 55%; 44% and 51%, respectively. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy results revealed that endothelial damage was more prominent in EG-I when compared to EG-II. The ruptured endothelial lining and damaged cellular surface was increased in EG-I when compared to EG-II. Ultrastructural observations showed that after EPA treatment, the degeneration and cellular surface damage on the endothelium were also decreased. These biochemical and ultrastructural results suggest that EPA is a potential drug which significantly lowers the serum lipid profile and partially repairs endothelial dysfunction due to hyperlipidemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Carotid Arteries / drug effects*
  • Carotid Arteries / metabolism
  • Carotid Arteries / ultrastructure
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / etiology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / metabolism
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / pathology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / ultrastructure
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / etiology
  • Hypercholesterolemia / metabolism
  • Hypercholesterolemia / pathology
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lipids / blood
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Rabbits
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipids
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid