[Endothelial cell injury induced by linoleic acid hydroperoxide and atherosclerosis]

Effect of lipid peroxidation on the development of atherosclerotic lesions was studied in 10 diet-induced hyper cholesterolemic rabbits. By the end of the 3rd week of hypercholesterolemia, lipid peroxidative injury of the endothelial cells was induced by injecting linoleic acid hydroperoxide into a defined segment of the carotid artery. By the end of the 8th and 10th week light and electron microscopy revealed that atherosclerotic lesions mainly the fibrous plaques developed in certain segments of the artery described. The results indicate that under hypercholesterolemic condition, endothelial peroxidative injury may promote and intensify the process of atherogenesis. Furthermore, endothelial peroxidative injury which is characterised by the presence of plasma membrane blebbing can also be induced by hypercholesterolemia.