The effect of intermittent carbon monoxide exposure on experimental atherosclerosis in the rabbit.

(1) Twenty-four female New Zealand White rabbits were fed commercial diet plus 2% cholesterol. Twelve of these animals were exposed to carbon monoxide for 4 hours per day, seven days per week for 10 weeks. The carbon monoxide exposure was such that the mean blood carboxy-haemoglobin was raised to approximately 20% during each exposure period. Twelve control animals breathed atmospheric air under the same conditions of confinement as the carbon monoxide-exposed group. (2) No significant differences in the plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides or glutamate oxalacetate transaminase were observed between the two groups during the experiment. (3) When the animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the aortic content of triglycerides, cholesterol or phospholipids. (4) The extent of coronary artery atherosclerosis was statistically significantly higher in the carbon monoxide group than in the control group. (5) Ultracentrifugal analysis of plasma lipoproteins revealed that there was significantly more cholesterol in the d less than l.006 fraction from the CO-exposed rabbits. (6) These findings, are discussed with particular reference to the claim that the causal agent in tobacco smoke associated arterial disease is carbon monoxide.