DIETARY NITROPRUSSIDE ALLEVIATES ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC JAPANESE-QUAIL (COTURNIX-COTURNIX-JAPONICA)

Male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), susceptible to chole sterol-induced atherosclerosis, were rendered hypercholesterolemic by feeding a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol in two experiments, Half th e animals also received a dietary supplement of sodium nitroprusside r anging in concentration from 0.005% to 0.015%, After 10 weeks on, the diets, serum was obtained for cholesterol analysis, the animals were k illed, and the aortae removed and examined for the presence of atheros clerotic lesions, The number of animals having lesions and the severit y of the lesions was reduced in a dose dependent manner among those an imals receiving nitroprusside. Serum cholesterol was also reduced in r esponse to increasing levels of dietary nitroprusside. These findings indicate that, in this model, dietary nitroprusside, a source of nitri c oxide, can reduce the appearance and severity of atherosclerotic les ions in the aorta.