FREE-RADICALS, CERULOPLASMIN, AND COPPER CONCENTRATION IN SERUM AND AORTIC TISSUE IN EXPERIMENTAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS

It has been suggested that the increase in concentration of blood lipi d peroxides may be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Our research was conducted to study the effect of cholesterol feeding on lipid peroxid es, ceruloplasmin, HDL-cholesterol, serum unesterified fatty acids, an d copper concentration in serum and aortic tissue in rats. In the anim als fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet, the mean values of serum lipi d peroxide, ceruloplasmin, serum copper and unesterified fatty acids w ere increased significantly (p < 0.01) as compared to the control grou p. At the same time, HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly d ecreased in rats fed a diet enriched with cholesterol (p < 0.01) compa red to the control group. A significant decrease of copper concentrati on in aorta was also observed in these animals versus controls. Correl ations between ceruloplasmin and lipid peroxides as well as copper wer e statistically significant in these animals. At the same time, antiox idant activity in blood was two times higher as compared to controls. Results of this study provide the support for applying these determina tions in atherosclerosis monitoring.