Chronic lathyrism and atheromatosis in the rat. Protective effect of metformin.

Chronic administration of beta-aminopropionitrile fumarate (BAPN) (1 g/kg/day for 9 weeks) produced morphological changes of the aorta wall and in dermis, and biochemical changes of the aortic wall in the rat. Chronic administration of BAPN did not produce plasma lipid abnormalities such as those due to hyperlipidic diet. 9 weeks of BAPN followed by 10 months of a hyperlipidic diet increased the aortic cholesterol level and induced atheroma. The diet alone only produced an endothelial lipid overload and increased the aortic cholesterol level but less than BAPN and hyperlipidic diet together. Addition of metformin to BAPN prevented the formation of atheromatous lesions in the aorta and minimized the level of lipids in the aortic wall and of the dermis.