小檗碱对兔动脉粥样硬化、易损斑块及血脂的影响

Effects of Berberine on Atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque and Serum Levels of Lipid in Atherosclerotic Rabbits

目的观察小檗碱对兔动脉粥样硬化、易损斑块及血脂的干预作用。方法将40只雄性新西兰大白兔随机分为正常组、动脉硬化组、小檗碱和辛伐他汀组,每组10只。正常组以普通饲料喂养,其余各组高脂喂养并行主动脉内膜损伤术,小檗碱组和辛伐他汀组分别口服小檗碱和辛伐他汀。处死动物前予药物激发,行腹主动脉病理学检查,并检测血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)和高密度脂蛋白(HDL)水平。结果动脉硬化组中有5只发生斑块破裂和血栓形成,其余3组无斑块破裂和血栓形成。小檗碱组、辛伐他汀组的主动脉斑块评分、内中膜和弹力纤维的破坏程度较低,内中膜比增加较少。小檗碱组TC、TG、LDL水平较动脉硬化组低(P<0.05)。结论小檗碱具有降低血TC、TG、LDL水平,改善动脉粥样硬化和稳定斑块的作用。

Objective To observe the effects of berberine on atherosclerosis （AS） and vulnerable plaque and serum levels of lipid in atherosclerotic rabbits.Methods Forty male New Zealand White Rabbits were randomly classified into four groups：the control group,AS group,berberine group and simvastatin group.Rabbits in the control group fed with normal diet,rabbits in other groups with high fat diet and underwent balloon-induced abdominal aortic wall injury.Rabbits in the berberine group and simvastatin group were given berberine or simvastatin respectively.All rabbits underwent pharmacological triggering with injection of Chinese Russell’s viper venom （CRVV） and histamine before killed.All rabbits’ aortas were harvested for pathologic morphology observation.Serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）,triglycerides （TG）,low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） and high density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C） were measured.Results Plaque rupture and thrombosis occurred in five rabbits in the AS group,while there was no plaque rupture in the other three groups.The score of abdominal aorta plaque and the ratio of I/M in the simvastatin group and berberine group were significantly lower than those in the AS group.Serum levels of TC,TG and LDL-C in berberine and simvastatin group were decreased significantly.Conclusion Berberine can decrease serum levels of TC,TG and LDL-C and suppress the progression of atherosclerosis and stabilize the plaque in experimental atherosclerosis.