INCREASED PLASMA AND LIPOPROTEIN LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN APO E-DEFICIENT MICE

Apo E-deficient mice which are highly atherogenic animals were used in order to study their plasma and lipoprotein lipid peroxidation in the absence or presence of oxidative stress. We have demonstrated that pl asma from apo E knockout mice demonstrated increased lipid peroxidatio n both in the absence and in the presence of a free radical generating substance, 2,2-Azobis-(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH). Simila rly, low and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL and VLDL) from apo E-de ficient mice, but not their high-density lipoprotein (HDL), demonstrat ed increased lipid peroxidation. We suggest that in apo E-deficient mi ce, accelerated atherosclerosis is associated with increased lipid per oxidation of plasma, LDL and VLDL, as well as increased susceptibility of these lipoproteins to undergo lipid peroxidation under oxidative s tress. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.