Experimental atherogenesis and vascular noradrenaline content in NZW rabbits and activity of a new nicotinic acid derivative (L 44-0)

New Zealand White rabbits fed a low-level cholesterol-enriched diet (0.1%) were used to study and characterize a possible model of experimental atherogenesis. For the determination of the degree of atherosclerosis, more consistent and reproducible morphometric methods were used. Simultaneously the influence of plasma Cholesterol levels on vascular noradrenaline content was studied. The effect of a new lipid-regulating drug (0.1% L 44-0, the N-oxide of a nicotinic acid derivative) on analyzed parameters was studied as well. This study suggests that the low-level cholesterol-enriched diet is atherogenic, with macroscopically detectable lesions of atherosclerosis becoming apparent by week 12 of the study. The same diet increases the vascular noradrenaline content in the renal artery and in the femoral artery and vein; however, it does not influence that content in the carotid and mesenteric arteries. L 44-0 counteracts most of the observed effects.