The Effect Of Diet Of Ruditapes Philippinarum On The Development Of Experimental Atherosclerosis In Rabbits

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of diets rich in Ruditapes Philippinarum on the development of atherosclerosis.Methods : 60 New Zealand White rabbits were divided randomly into four groups. Rabbits of group A received general diet, group B received general diet with a daily supplement of Ruditapes Philippinarum, group C received high lipid diet with a daily supplement of Ruditapes Philippinarum and group D received high lipid diet for 8 weeks. In the morning of the 14th day, rabbits fasted during the fore night were drown blood from the ear central artery. Then blood samples were carried out biochemical analysis . The markers were serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and LDL-C/HDL-C. Morphologic atherosclerosis of aorta was observed with light microscope and electro-microscope. The area of atherosclerotic plaque and the intima-media thickness ratio (IMT) were measured.Results: Compared with general diet group, the concentration of serum LDL-C, HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C mildly increased, the concentration of serum TC and TG keep constantly and IMT didn't change obviously in general diet with supplement of Ruditapes Philippinarum group. And atherosclerotic fatty streak and plaque were not observed with naked eye and light microscope. Compared with high lipid diet group, the concentration of serum TC, TG and LDL-C/HDL-C decreased significantly, while the concentration of serum HDL-C increased significantly in high lipid diet with supplement of Ruditapes Philippinarum group (p<0.05); the concentration of serum LDL-C decreased slightly with no statistical significance. The area of atherosclerotic plaque and IMT were less significantly than those in high lipid diet group (p<0.05). And the level of atherosclerosis of aorta obviously decreased observed with naked eye and light microscope in group C. Conclusion: Low lipid diet with daily supplement of Ruditapes Philippinarum has no significant influence on serum lipid and atherosclerosis, but high lipid diet with daily supplement of Ruditapes Philippinarum may decrease serum lipid and inhibit the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits.