Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Fifteen New Zealand White male rabbits received a cholesterol-enriched diet and vitamin D(2) until significant AVS was detected by echocardiography. The enriched diet was then stopped to mimic cholesterol-lowering therapy and animals were allocated randomly to receive saline (control group, n=8) or an ApoA-I mimetic peptide (treated group, n=7), three times per week for 2 weeks. Serial echocardiograms and post mortem valve histology were performed. KEY RESULTS: Aortic valve area increased significantly by 25% in the treated group after 14 days of treatment (P=0.012). Likewise, aortic valve thickness decreased by 21% in the treated group, whereas it was unchanged in controls (P=0.0006). Histological analysis revealed that the extent of lesions at the base of valve leaflets and sinuses of Valsalva was smaller in the treated group compared with controls (P=0.032). The treatment also reduced calcification, as revealed by the loss of the positive relationship observed in the control group (r=0.87, P=0.004) between calcification area and aortic valve thickness. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:
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Authors | D Busseuil, Y Shi, M Mecteau, G Brand, A-E Kernaleguen, E Thorin, J-G Latour, E Rhéaume, J-C Tardif |
Journal | British journal of pharmacology
(Br J Pharmacol)
Vol. 154
Issue 4
Pg. 765-73
(Jun 2008)
ISSN: 0007-1188 [Print] England |
PMID | 18414386
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Apolipoprotein A-I
- Cholesterol, HDL
- Peptides
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Topics |
- Animals
- Aortic Valve
(pathology)
- Aortic Valve Stenosis
(diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
- Apolipoprotein A-I
(administration & dosage)
- Calcinosis
(drug therapy)
- Cholesterol, HDL
(metabolism)
- Diet, Atherogenic
- Disease Models, Animal
- Echocardiography
- Male
- Peptides
(administration & dosage)
- Rabbits
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