Free radicals, ceruloplasmin, and copper concentration in serum and aortic tissue in experimental atherosclerosis.

It has been suggested that the increase in concentration of blood lipid peroxides may be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Our research was conducted to study the effect of cholesterol feeding on lipid peroxides, ceruloplasmin, HDL-cholesterol, serum unesterified fatty acids, and copper concentration in serum and aortic tissue in rats. In the animals fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet, the mean values of serum lipid peroxide, ceruloplasmin, serum copper, and unesterified fatty acids were increased significantly (p < 0.01) as compared to the control group. At the same time, HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased in rats fed a diet enriched with cholesterol (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. A significant decrease of copper concentration in aorta was also observed in these animals versus controls. Correlations between ceruloplasmin and lipid peroxides as well as copper were statistically significant in these animals. At the same time, antioxidant activity in blood was two times higher as compared to controls. Results of this study provide the support for applying these determinations in atherosclerosis monitoring.