ATHEROGENICITY OF PHENOTHIAZINE DRUGS IN CULTURED HUMAN AORTA INTIMALCELLS

The effects of phenothiazine drugs on the levels of cholesterol in smo oth cells of the human aortic intima. Two antiarrhythmics (ethacizine ans ethmozine) and two neuroleptcs (trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine ) were evaluated. The three agents ethacizine, trifluoperazine, and ch lorpromazine given. in concentrations ot 10(-7) to 10(-5) M were ascer tained to cause intracellular cholesterol accumulation, whereas ethmoz ine produced no effects on the intracellular levels of cholesterol. Et hacizine failed to cause cholesterol accumulation when the cells were incubated with ethacizine in the culture medium supplemented with lipi d-deficient serum. Ethacizine in a concentration ot 10(-5) M was shown to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol esters and had no action. on the intracellular synthesis of steroids.