Effects of rat adrenal homogenate on induction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits.

Virgin male Sprague-Dawley rats are resistant to atheroma formation. An adrenal homogenate from such rats delayed the increase in serum cholesterol concentrations in cholesterol-fed New Zealand white rabbits. More importantly, aortic atherosclerosis was markedly reduced when compared to a similar population fed cholesterol without adrenal homogenate for 14 weeks. The nature of the active constituent in this homogenate and its mode of action are unknown.