Arterial Atherosclerotic Vascular Endothelial Cell Ultrastructure And Adhesion Molecule Expression Changes And Statin Intervention Study

Part 1: The study of vascular endothelium ultra microstructure DynamicChanges in atherosclerosis process and the effect of atorvastatin Objectives: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a common and frequently disease. We examined the dynamic changes of ultra microstructure and detected the in vivo effect of atorvastatin on the changes of vascular endothelium ultra microstructure of rabbits while they were fed on an atherogenic diet, and investigated the role of vascular endothelial cell on atherogenesis and partial anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of atorvastatin beyond its cholesterol-lowering effects .Methods: A total of 88 New Zealand White male rabbits weighing 1.8 to 2.4 kg were raised in separate cages according to cleaning animal. After adaptability fed one week, they were randomly assigned to three groups: One group of rabbits (control group, group C,N = 24) had pelleted whole-grain common diet, one group (atherosclerosis group, group AS,N = 32) had an atherogenic diet, another group(drug group , group D,N=32) received the same atherogenic diet as group AS but adding atorvastatin 4 mg/d.kg. At the beginning of test vein blood of 10 rabbits was drawn for measurements. At the end of 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week 6-8 rabbits of each group were sacrificed and blood was drawn from inferior vena cava for analysis of cholesterol, aminopherase, phosphocreatine kinase and serum soluble ICAM-1, soluble VCAM-1, soluble PECAM-1, meanwhile aortas were harvested. The arches of thoracic aortas were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE). The expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and PECAM-1 were studied with immuno- histochemical technique. The pathological changes were then observed by light microscope technique; in the meantime morphometric analysis was performed on the ratio of aortic intimae/media. The middle segments of thoracic aortas were fixed on glass slide for the observation of endothelial ultra microstructure with atomic force microscope. Results:1. Levels of blood cholesterol in group C did not have obvious changes during the test. Compared with group C, levels of blood cholesterol in group AS and D were remarkably increased (all P<0.05). However, they were lower in group D than in group AS and there was a significant difference between two groups (all P<0.05).2. During the period of test levels of plasma ALT and CK among three groups had no obvious changes (P>0.05).3. Specimen appearance: Aorta wall of group C rabbit was thin, ductility and not easily broken. Their intimae were transparent and had no plaque on surface. In group...