Effect of reticuloendothelial stimulators on the tissue changes and evolution of experimental atheroma in rabbits.

Administration of histamine phosphate or glycerol trioleate (RE stimulators) to cholesterol-fed rabbits induced identical pattern of changes in cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride levels of the blood. However, the incidence of atheroma index in aorta and coronary arteries were significantly higher in histamine-treated and glycerol-trioleate-treated animals compared to cholesterol-fed controls. The rise in these indices appeared to be only partly related to increase in serum beta-lipoproteins but mostly due to increased permeability of the endothelium and internal elastic lamina probably caused by histamine phosphate and glycerol trioleate resulted in greater degree of atheromatous lesions in those groups.