Use of 3H-cholesteryl linoleyl ether as a quantitative marker for loss of cholesteryl ester during regression of cholesterol-induced aortic atheromas in rabbits.

In this study, use was made of 3H-cholesteryl linoleyl ether (3H-CLE) to follow regression of aortic atheromatosis induced by feeding cholesterol to rabbits. After a 3-month induction period, the rabbits were divided into two groups with an attempt to match them by plasma cholesterol levels. They were injected with rabbit plasma labeled with 3H-CLE, and the baseline group rabbits were killed 10 to 12 days after injection. The experimental (regression) group rabbits were given rabbit chow containing 3% cholestyramine and were killed up to 330 days thereafter. Aortic 3H-CLE of both the baseline and the regression groups correlated highly with the plasma cholesterol levels at the time of injection of label. The radioactivity recovered in the aortas of the baseline and regression groups was not significantly different, indicating retention of label between day 12 and 330 days after injection. During that time, the mean aortic cholesteryl ester content decreased from 7.6 +/- 1.3 mg to 3.1 +/- 0.7 mg (p less than 0.01). The specific activity of 3H-CLE/cholesteryl ester determined in the aortic arch and the thoracic and abdominal aorta was significantly increased in all three regions examined in the regression group as compared to the baseline group. The present data show that 3H-CLE is retained in the atheromatous aorta for at least 330 days and that its use may add another dimension to the quantitative evaluation of regression of atherosclerotic lesions.