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Horm Metab Res 1997; 29(10): 507-509
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979090
Originals Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor on the Advanced Atherosclerosis in Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic Rabbits

Y. Watanabe2 , T. Inaba2 , H. Shimano2 , T. Gotoda2 , M. Kawamura2 , M. Shiomi1 , Y. Yazaki2 , N. Yamada2
  • 1Institute for Experimental Animals, Kobe University, School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
  • 23rd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo
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Publication History

1997

1997

Publication Date:
23 April 2007 (online)

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Abstract

We have reported that macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) prevents atherosclerosis in young WHHL rabbits (Atherosclerosis 93:245, 1993). In the present study, we injected recombinant human M-CSF (250 µg/day) into WHHL rabbits aged 11 months 3 times a week after advanced atherosclerosis was established. After 8 months of treatment, we did not find any significant difference in plasma lipid levels, cholesterol ester content in the aorta or macroscopic atherosclerosis lesion area between M-CSF treated and non-treated rabbits. There was, however, a significant difference in the ratio of intimal to medial thickness (1.08 vs 1.7, p < 0.01). Thus, M-CSF may influence vascular smooth muscle cell function and modify the process of atherosclerosis in advance lesions.

Key words

M-CSF - Macrophage - Cytokine - Foam Cell - WHHL Rabbit