Initial vascular changes and their pharmacological management in atherosclerosis induced by immunological injury and hyperlipidaemia.

The authors studied the pathophysiological mechanisms the early stages of atherosclerosis induced by immunization in combination with short-term intake of dietary cholesterol. The mechanisms involved in the development of lesions comprised impaired endothelial integrity, increased permeability and transmural protein transport in the aorta. The changes were induced by the combined synergic action of immunization and cholesterol diet. Further, their study showed that progression of the thus induced atherosclerotic lesions can be inhibited by histamine and serotonin antagonists. The fact that the latter decreased the extent of endothelial injury, permeability and cholesterol accumulation in the aorta without changing the level of cholesterolaemia indicate that drugs are capable of controlling the pathophysiological processes in the artery participating in atherosclerotic lesions.