The effect of low dose of nicotine on atherosclerosis inhibition mechanism in obese cynomolgous macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract

Obesity is the major risk factor of coronary atherosclerosis, which is a high rank killer among citizen in the world. In order to prevent coronary atherosclerosis, we explored the effect of low dose nicotine liquid peroral using 9 adult males cynomolgous macaques (Macaca fascicularis) obes (body mass indect >23.00) based on celluler histophatological study. These obes monkeys are grouped into 2 groups: one group was given nicotine intervention (n=5) while the other was not (n=4). The evaluation includes the formation of coronary atherosclerotic plague, the cellular aspects of coronary athersclerotic lesions and the present of HDL at the liver and aorta. The correlation analysis revealed a tendency that body mass index and ratio of intimal thickening and coronary arterial wall thickening was correlated. It suggested us that there was also correlation between obesity and severity of atherosclerotic lesion. The novelty of this research included the potential effect of nicotine low dose (1) to protect the smoth muscle cells and endothelial intact, (2) to increase intimal layer regeneration through foam’s cells cytolysis and selluler matrix development, (3) to increase and strenghten smooth muscle cells, and (4) to increase the role of HDL in reverse cholesterol transport. It seems that nicotine has a potencial role to transform atherosclerotic plaque to stabilize artery.