No Effect of Nifedipine on Atherogenesis in Cholesterol‐Fed Rabbits

It was recently reported that the calcium antagonist nifedipine suppresses aortic cholesterol accumulation in cholesterol-fed rabbits without reducing hypercholesterolemia. We extended this study on plasma lipoprotein levels and aortic influx of cholesteryl ester. We gave 40 mg per day of nifedipine orally to 17 rabbits fed a 2% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. For the same period of time 15 control rabbits received placebo capsules and the same diet. During the study, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol concentrations in plasma were not significantly different in the experimental and control animals. At the end of the study we found no difference in the two groups in accumulation of cholesterol in the intima media of the proximal thoracic aorta, the distal thoracic aorta, and the corresponding media layers. Furthermore, aortic influx of free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, and albumin from plasma measured by radioactive tracers was not significantly affected by nifedipine.

[1]  J. Schroeder,et al.  Calcium antagonists suppress atherogenesis in aorta but not in the intramural coronary arteries of cholesterol-fed rabbits. , 1983, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology.

[2]  J. Rouleau,et al.  Verapamil suppresses atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. , 1983, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[3]  K. Nademanee,et al.  Electrophysiologic and hemodynamic effects of slow-channel blocking drugs. , 1982, Progress in cardiovascular diseases.

[4]  O. Stein,et al.  Use of 3H‐Cholesteryl Linoleyl Ether for the Quantitation of Plasma Cholesteryi Ester Influx into the Aortic Wall in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits , 1982, Arteriosclerosis.

[5]  S. Stender,et al.  In vivo fluxes of plasma cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine and protein into mini-pig aortic and pulmonary segments. , 1982, Atherosclerosis.

[6]  S. Smith,et al.  Failure of a high therapeutic dosage of nifedipine to suppress atherogenesis in cholesterol-fed rabbits , 1982 .

[7]  P. D. Henry,et al.  Suppression of atherogenesis in cholesterol-fed rabbit treated with nifedipine. , 1981, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[8]  D. B. Zilversmit,et al.  In vivo influx, tissue esterification and hydrolysis of free and esterified plasma cholesterol in the cholesterol-fed rabbit. , 1981, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[9]  D. B. Zilversmit,et al.  Transfer of Plasma Lipoprotein Components and of Plasma Proteins into Aortas of Cholesterol‐Fed Rabbits , 1981, Arteriosclerosis.

[10]  W. M. Lee,et al.  Effects of naproxen and methotrexate on the extent of aortic lesions and cholesterol concentrations in cholesterol-fed rabbits. , 1980, Experimental and molecular pathology.

[11]  P. D. Henry.  Comparative pharmacology of calcium antagonists: nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem. , 1980, The American journal of cardiology.

[12]  D. B. Zilversmit,et al.  Mathematical methods for the simultaneous measurement of arterial influx of esterified and free cholesterol from two lipoprotein fractions and in vivo hydrolysis of arterial cholesterol ester , 1980 .

[13]  P. Astrup,et al.  The effect of carbon monoxide on cholesterol in the aortic wall of rabbits. , 1977, Atherosclerosis.

[14]  D. Illingworth,et al.  The effects of hyperlipidemia on lipoprotein metabolism in squirrel monkeys and rabbits. , 1975, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[15]  R. Brattsand.  Actions of vitamins A and E and some nicotinic acid derivatives on plasma lipids and on lipid infiltration of aorta in cholesterol-fed rabbits. , 1975, Atherosclerosis.

[16]  J. Thompson,et al.  Fluorometric determination of vitamin A in human blood and liver. , 1971, Biochemical medicine.

[17]  P. Astrup,et al.  Enhancing influence of carbon monoxide on the development of atheromatosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. , 1967, Journal of atherosclerosis research.

[18]  O. H. Lowry,et al.  Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. , 1951, The Journal of biological chemistry.