Atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of atheroma in the intima having a core of lipid and a covering fibrous cap. However, regarding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, there are many opinions including theories of insudation, filtration, platelet aggregation and hypothesis of response to injury, monoclone, loss of control. The origin of lipophage is also controversial. And it is indicated that relevant treatment on this disease is still symptomatic.
Concerning the relationship between vitamin E and atherosclerosis, some investigators reported that vitamin E not only restrains hypercholesterolemia but also reduces the occurrence of atherosclerosis. In that while, others have noted no significant effect of vitamin E upon hypercholesterolemia.
This study is conducted to evaluate the effect of vitamin E upon hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Eighty healthy rabbits weighing about 1.7 kg have been used for the experiment and divided into 1) basic diet fed group (control), 2) lipid administered group, 3) lipid & vitamin E administered group and 4) vitamin E administered group. The basic diet was composed of 70-80g bean residue, 100-250g vegetable and 80-100g pellet diet per rabbit per day. The lipid diet was composed of basic diet plus cholesterol (CHL) 500mg/kg, corn oil 1.5g/kg, bile salt 50mg/kg per rabbit per day. Vitamin E (125mg/kg) was administered to appropriate groups per rabbit per day.
In doing this, aorta and coronary arteries have been examined grossly and light microscopically, and the serum CHL, phospholipid(PL), triglyceride (TG) levels and lipoprotein fractions in each rabbit have been also measured.
The results obtained from this study are as follows;
1) In the lipid administered group, serum CHL, PL, TG, very low density lipoprotein were in-creased and high density lipoprotein (HDL) decreased significantly. The aorta revealed various degree of atherosclerotic changes.
2) In lipid and vitamin E administered group, serum CHL, PL, TG were decreased and HDL increased apparently compared with those in the lipid administered group. Atherosclerotic changes were also abviously repressed.
3) In the vitamin E administered group, no significant changes were noted.
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