EFFECTS OF NICARDIPINE ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN RABBITS GIVEN 2-PERCENT CHOLESTEROL DIET

Nicardipine has been shown to have an anti-arherogenic effect in rabbi ts given a 2% cholesterol diet. Current evidence suggests that lipid p eroxidation plays an important role in atherogenesis. This study exami nes the effect of nicardipine on lipid peroxidation in rabbits given a 2% cholesterol diet, 8 of these rabbits given nicardipine 0.5 mg/kg t wice daily intramuscularly for ten weeks while the remaining untreated 6 were controls. After ten weeks, serum malondialdehyde in the contro l group was significantly higher compared to their baseline levels (P< 0.05). However, there was no increase in serum malondialdehyde in the nicardipine group after 10 weeks. The area of Sudan IV positive intima l lesions (atherosclerotic plaques) were significantly decreased (P<0. 01) in the treated group compared to the control group. The aortic tis sue content of cholesterol and diene conjugates were also decreased in the nicardipine group (P<0.01). These findings suggest a possible lin k between nicardipine and lipid peroxidation in mediating its antiathe rogenic effects.