Cholesterolmetabolisme tydens die opwekking en regenerasie van eksperimentele aterosklerose

Abstract

In the present investigation it was planned to evoke atherosclerosis in rabbits which agrees with that seen in man. For this purpose a semi- synthetic diet with a high fat content was used. Although an atherogenic state, according to the cholesterol and C/p values of the serum was induced in the experimental animals, pronounced atherosclerosis i n the aortic wall was only found in a single rabbit. The increase in the atherogenic state with a resultant atherosclerosis seemed to be a strong time dependent process. In the second phase of the experiment the regenerative properties of a maize meal containing semi- synthetic diet was investigated with regard to the induced atherogenic state. It was found that this diet effects complete regeneration of the atherogenic state in the blood, according to the cholesterol and C/p values of the serum, while it brought about only partial regeneration of the cholesterol concentration in the aortic wall. This regenerative effect of the diet may not necessarily be attributed to the maize meal in the diet , seeing that regeneration can take place spontaneously only by the removal of the atherogenic factor (Katz 1958). During the atherogenic phase of the experiment a hypocholesteremic tendency of the sugar mealie containing atherogenic diet was observed with regard to a white maize meal containing diet . The values of the cholesterol in the aortic wall of the rabbits on the sugar mealie containing diet however , were mostly higher than those on the other diet. The increase in the values of the serum- cholesterol during the atherogenic phase could inter alia be explained by an increase in the activity of the cholesterol-synthesis in the liver and a simultaneous decrease in the catabolism of cholesterol. This resulted in an increase of the cholesterol : synthesis ratio. The decrease of the serum-cholesterol values during the regenerative phase of the experiment could not be explained by the metabolism of cholesterol seeing that no alteration in the synthesis of cholesterol could be detected while a slight decrease in the catabolism was observed. These alterations follow apparently on the slight relative decrease of the serum PBI values which was observed during this phase.