A study of the effects Telmisartan on induced hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in male rabbits

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a major killer disease world wide. The most common risk factors are diabetes, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity. The period of this study was continued for one year.  This study explains the effect of Telmisartan on induced atherosclerosis in male rabbits. Eighteen local domestic rabbits were allocated randomly into 3 groups. Atherosclerosis was induced in 2 groups by adding cholesterol powder(3%) to standard chow diet for 10 weeks .Normal control group was put on normal chow diet. The blood sampling was collected firstly at the end of the induction period and every 5 days through the 60 days of treatment course, and serum lipid profile namely .TG,TC,LDL,VLDL,and HDL were measured .Autopsy of aortic (abdominal and thoracic) sectioning for histopathology were done before treatment and after completing the 60 days of treatment. Telmisartan show a significant reduction (P value<0.01) in serum cholesterol level, Triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol ,and significant increase in HDL-cholesterol level as compared with control groups (p<0.01) ,Telmisartan treated group showed significant atherolytic effects (p<0.001) as compared with the untreated group.

We conclude that Telmisartan reduced serum levels of TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and increase serum HDL level in treated animals. Telmisartan decrees atherogenic index with atherolytic effect in arterial wall of treated animals.