[An experimental study of the atherogenic effect of the vanadium and nickel contained in drinking water when combined].

During an annual toxicological experiment on white male rats, receiving orally vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni) in doses, equivalent to the accepted in Bulgaria, maximum allowable norms for ist category surface waters (respectively 0.005 mg/kg and 0.0025 mg/kg), 2 and 6 times and 20 and 60 times higher, is studied the atherogenic effect of the latter after the indices: total cholesterol, beta-lipoproteins, phospholipids, lecithin, total lipids, total protein and hexoses of glycoproteins in the serum; oxyproline, hexauranium acids and hexoses, hexosamines, connected with the proteins in the aorta. It is established that V and Ni in chronic combined effect in doses, equivalent to those accepted in Bulgaria, in maximum allowable concentrations for Ist category waters and surpassing them 2 and 6 time respectively, lead to no changes in the biochemical composition of the connective tissue of the aorta and to disorders in the lipidic and protein metabolism, while in higher doses is registered an increase of the glucoproteins and decrease in the glucosaminglycans in the aorta and decrease of the total lipids in the serum. The results point out, that V and Ni in the conditions of the experiment don't accelerate the processes of the natural ageing of the vessels and have no atherogenic effect. Juxtaposing the data for V and Ni concentrations in drinking waters in Bulgaria with our results give grounds to reckon, that their raised content in drinking waters in some regions do not represent a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.