Experimental Study Of Tongxinluo Inhibit The Formation Of Atherosclerotic Plaques And The Expression Of CD40 And CD40L In Rabbit

OBJECTIVE : This study is aimed to construct rabbit carotid atherosclerotic model by high-cholesterol diet and removal of membrana adventitia and to investigate the effect of Tongxinluo anti-atheroscleroticl and to observe its mechanism of action.METHODS:Twenty-four male rabbits,left carotid adventitia removed with collagenase, were fed with high cholesterol diet and divided into three groups randomly.Serum total cholesterol ,TG and LDL-C were detected before operation and after twelve weeks;plaque areas and expression of CD40 and CD40L were detected after twelve weeks.RESULTS: The serum total cholesterol levels of the three groups increased obviously after 12 weeks. Compared with control,Tongxinluo or atorvastatin group showed a reduced serum total cholesteml level. Of all the three groups the atherosclerotic lesion of left carotid was more severe than that of right. Tongxinluo or atorvastatin group showed a reduced carotid plaque area and CD40 level compared with control. CONCLUSION: The model of rabbit carotid atherosclerosis can be made successfully by high-cholesterol diet and removal of membrana adventitia. Both Tongxinluo and atorvastatin can inhibit atherogenesis in part by lowering blood total cholesterol level and downregulating the expression of CD40 and CD40L.