PROSTACYCLIN, THROMBOXANE A(2), AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN YOUNG HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC SWINE

Plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha and thromboxane B-2 levels mere determined to evaluate their role as predictive indicators for the dev elopment and progression of coronary atherosclerosis in young hypercho lesterolemic swine. 32 young swine were randomly assigned to the contr ol or atherogenic diet group for 10, 30, 90, or 180 days. Lipid profil es were obtained at the onset and repeated throughout the study. Radio immunoassays of plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha and thromboxane B-2 were recorded at 10 day intervals in the 10 and 30 day subjects an d at 30 day intervals in the 90 and 180 day subjects. Sections from th e proximal left anterior descending coronary artery were classified ba sed on their histological evidence of atherosclerosis by light microsc opy. Hypercholesterolemia was positively correlated with development o f coronary atherosclerosis (r = 0.704). However, plasma 6-keto-prostag landin F-1 alpha, thromboxane B-2, and the thromboxane B-2:6-keto-pros taglandin F-1 alpha ratio were not found to be predictive indicators ( p > 0.05) for the development or early progression of coronary atheros clerosis.