Partial suppression by pyridinolcarbamate of growth and necrosis of atherosclerotic lesions in swine subjected to an atherogenic regimen that produces advanced lesions

Abstract

Conflicting results have been reported in the literature on the effects of pyridinolcarbamate on the prevention of experimentally induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. In the current study the effects of pyridinolcarbamate have been tested in a swine model in which advanced atherosclerosis is produced by a combination of balloon-intimal trauma and a hyperlipidemic diet. Results were compared with those in two reference groups of swine subjected to the same atherogenic regimen - one left untreated by drugs and the other treated with hydroxyurea which is one of the antimetabolites used in cancer chemotherapy. In both drug-treated groups the intimal surface involved by atherosclerotic lesions, and the lesion area expressed as a ratio to the total medial area were significantly less than those of the untreated control group. Both drugs also significantly reduced the number of necrotic atheromatous lesions as compared to the untreated group. The mechanism of action of pyridinolcarbamate in our experimental condition is not clear at present. The demonstration of a beneficial effect of a relatively non-toxic drug such as pyridinolcarbamate seems to us to warrant carrying out further 'in depth' study of this drug.