13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin E 1 decreases low-density lipoprotein influx into rabbit aorta

Abstract

The effect of 4-week daily administration of 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin E 1 (13,14-DH-PGE 1; 2 μg/kg) on LDL influx into the rabbit aortic wall was examined versus the effect of the same dose of PGE 1 and sham-treatment in 108 male animals fed an 1% cholesterol supplemented diet. Treatment was started after de-endothelialization of the abdominal aorta with a Fogarty catheter. After the 1-month treatment period the animals were injected with 10 μCi 125I-low-density lipoprotein (LDL; 0.5 mg protein/ml). Uptake of the radiolabelled LDL was measured in morphologically verified endothelialized, re-endothelialized and de-endothelialized abdominal aortic segments. The LDL influx into the aorta was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in 13,14-DH-PGE 1- and PGE 1-treated rabbits than in the controls. This reduction was most pronounced in re- and de-endothelialized segments. No significant difference between effect of PGE 1 and of its biologically active derivative, 13,14-DH-PGE 1, on arterial LDL entry was found. These data demonstrate a comparable beneficial effect of 13,14-DH-PGE 1 and PGE 1 on vascular wall lipid metabolism by decreasing LDL entry into the aortic wall in vivo.