Antioxidation of probucol in rats with experimental atherosclerosis

Background Oxidative stress plays an important role in atherogenesis,which raises the possibility of using antioxidants to ameliorate atherosclerosis.In this research,we aim to determine the effects of probucol on atherosclerosis in rats.Methods Forty-five male adult Wistar rats were randomly and equally allocated to three groups,control group(Group N),model group(Group M) and probucol group(Group P).High-lipid diet and intraperitoneal injection of Vitamin D3 were given to establish rats atherosclerosis(AS) model.Group P was intragastrically administered Probucol after 8 weeks.At the end of 16 weeks,all the rats were weighted and sacrificed for detecting the levels of triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein(LDL),high-density lipoprotein(HDL),oxidized low-density lipoprotein(OX-LDL) and malonaldehyde(MDA) in serum and the activity of serum superoxide dismutase(SOD).The histomorphological changes of the aorta were observed under light microscope.Results The body weight of rats in Group M and Group P were lighter than that in Group N(P < 0.01),and rats in Group P were heavier than those in Group M(P < 0.01).The contents of TC,TG and LDL-C in serum were obviously elevated in Group M and Group P compared with those in Group N(P < 0.01),and the content of HDL in Groups M and P was lower than that in Group N(P < 0.01).The contents of TC and LDL-C in serum were significantly lower in Group P than those in Group M(P < 0.01).However,the contents of TG and HDL in Groups M and P showed no statistically significant differences with each other(P > 0.05).The serum OX-LDL and MDA levels significantly increased,SOD activity decreased in Groups M and P compared with Group N(P < 0.01),while the levels of OX-LDL and MDA in Group P were lower than those in Group M(P < 0.05).No vessel lesion was found in Group N.The endothelial damage of the aorta was more significantly severe in Group M than in Group N,while the vessel lesion was less severe in Group P than in Group M.Conclusion Probucol can prevent atherogenesis and play a crucial role in inhibition of oxidative stress.