Effects Of Spirulina On The Level Of Homocysteine And Arterial Lesion In Hyperhomocysteinemia Rats

Objective To observe the effects of spirulina on the concentration of total plasmahomocysteine and arterial lesion and the level of liver cystathaionineβ-synthasemRNA in hyperhomocysteinemia rats fed with high methionine diet.Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:Controlgroup ,hyperhomocysteinemia model group,folic acid group(5mg/kg/d) ,low dosespirulina group(0.5g/kg/d),median dose spirulina group(1.5g/kg/d),high dosespirulina group(3.0g/kg/d).They were fed with normal diets plus L-methionine(1g/kg/d) except control rats who received normal diets only.Treatment groups asmentioned were fed with the drugs for 12 weeks. At the end of treatment ,the levelof total plasma homocysteine was measured ,the concentration of plasma triglyceride(TG), total cholesterin (TC),malondialdehyde(MDA) and the activity of superoxidedismutase(SOD) were assayed.The histological changes of arota were examined bylight microscope and the expression of PCNA in arota by immunohistochemistry . Thelevel of liver cystathaionine β-synthase mRNA was detected by reversetranscription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) .Results 1.The level of Hcy in HHCY model group was 10.74±0.47μmol/Lsignificant higher than that in control group 6.97±0.79μmol/l ,P﹤0.01.2.The levelsof Hcy were decreased to 8.58±0.53 , 8.26±0.71 , 6.54±0.48 and 7.24±0.32μmol/L in folic acid,low dose,median dose and high dose spirulina groups, respectivelyP<0.05 as compared with HHCY model group.3.The concentration of plasma MDA inHHCY model group was 16.28±2.43 nmol/L very significantly higher than that incontrol group 5.45±0.71 nmol/L,P﹤0.01. MDA was lower in spirulina groups thanthat in HHCY model group (P<0.05). The activity of plasma SOD in HHCY modelgroup was higher than that in control group and low dose spirulina group (P<0.05).4.The severity of the arota injury in drug groups was signifcantly lower than that inHHCY model group.The number of the PCNA positive cells and theirimmunoreactivity which significantly increased in HHCY rats were attenuated in theSP treatment groups(P<0.05).5.No significant difference in the levels of livercystathaionineβ-synthase (CBS ) mRNA were shown among the six groups(P>0.05)Conclusion 1.The rat HHCY model was successfully built up by feeding withL-methionine (1g/kg/d) for 12 weeks.2.The supplementation of spirulina may reducethe level of homocysteine in hyperhomocysteinemia in an extent better than that offolic acid.3. The supplementation of spirulina can decrease the level of the oxidantstress.4. Spirulina can decrease plasma lipid in hyperhomocysteinemia rats.5.Spirulinacan attenuated the arterial lesion.6. Spirulina might not affect the expression of livercystathaionineβ-synthase (CBS) in HHCY.