Revis N W, Major T C, Horton C Y
J Environ Pathol Toxicol. 1980 Sep;4(2-3):293-303.
Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that the incidence of atherosclerosis is higher in soft-water areas than in hard-water areas. In an attempt to discern the factor(s) in drinking water that may be associated with these observations, the current studies were performed to determine the effects of several elements associated with hard (i.e., calcium and magnesium) or soft (i.e., cadmium and lead) water in the induction and progression of atherosclerosis in the white carneau pigeon. The effect of these elements on lipoprotein metabolism was also assessed because it has been suggested that changes in the metabolism of lipoprotein may play a role in the etiology of atherosclerosis. Results show that the number and size of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta were increased in pigeons given drinking water containing lead and/or cadmium. The effects of these elements were antagonized by the addition of calcium to drinking water containing lead and/or cadmium. Although lead and cadmium altered the profile of lipoproteins, this change did not appear to be related to an increase in the number and size of atherosclerotic plaques of the aorta. However, in pigeons treated with calcium alone the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) increased fourfold, and arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries was observed. This result suggests that marked increases in the LDL protein may be related to arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Based on these preliminary results, we suggest that lead, cadmium, and the LDL protein may be important factors in the induction and progression of atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis in the pigeon.
流行病学和临床研究表明，软水地区动脉粥样硬化的发病率高于硬水地区。为了找出饮用水中可能与这些观察结果相关的因素，开展了当前这些研究，以确定与硬水（即钙和镁）或软水（即镉和铅）相关的几种元素对白卡诺鸽动脉粥样硬化的诱导和进展的影响。还评估了这些元素对脂蛋白代谢的影响，因为有人提出脂蛋白代谢的变化可能在动脉粥样硬化的病因中起作用。结果表明，饮用含铅和/或镉的水的鸽子，其主动脉中动脉粥样硬化斑块的数量和大小增加。在含铅和/或镉的饮用水中添加钙可对抗这些元素的影响。虽然铅和镉改变了脂蛋白的分布，但这种变化似乎与主动脉动脉粥样硬化斑块数量和大小的增加无关。然而，单独用钙处理的鸽子，其低密度脂蛋白（LDL）增加了四倍，并且观察到冠状动脉出现动脉硬化。这一结果表明，LDL蛋白的显著增加可能与冠状动脉的动脉硬化有关。基于这些初步结果，我们认为铅、镉和LDL蛋白可能是鸽子动脉粥样硬化和动脉硬化诱导及进展中的重要因素。
