The effects of injecting heterologous protein upon the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis
Zhu, X.Y.
Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 10(2): 139-142
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-3758 PMID: 7128443 Document Number: 185207
The effects of heterologous protein upon the development of coronary atherosclerosis were investigated in rabbits. Atherosclerosis was induced in rabbits by feeding them a diet containing 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g cholesterol, respectively, in 3 series of experiments. In each series, the animals were divided into 3 groups: the 1st group was fed a cholesterol diet; the 2nd group, a cholesterol diet plus 2 i.v. injections of albumin (prepared from human placental blood) in doses of 250 mg/kg, 1 given at the 1st day and the 2nd on the 14th day; and in the 3rd group, a general diet without addition of cholesterol, but with injections of albumin as in the 2nd group. All animals were killed 40-45 days later. Hearts of these animals were incised along the atrioventricular groove and 20 sections of ventriculus cordis were made for each rabbit. The sections were double stained with Sudan red and hematoxylin. The total number of coronary arteries in these sections were enumerated and the number of Sudan red positively stained arteries and the arteries occluded with Sudan red-stained materials were counted separately. The incidence of arteries with atheromatic lesions and of occlusive arteries was calculated. Apparently, the incidence of atheromatic lesions of coronary arteries and the occlusive coronary arteries is significantly higher in rabbits fed 0.5 and 1.0 g cholesterol in combination with injections of albumin than in rabbits fed with cholesterol alone. Apparently, the injections of heterologous protein facilitate and aggravate the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits induced by high cholesterol diet.