[An experimental study of the atherogenic effect of vanadium in body uptake with drinking water]

During one year toxicological experiment on white male rats, receiving orally vanadium in doses 0.005 mg/kg, equivalent to the accepted in Bulgaria norm for ist category surface waters and 0.01 mg/kg, equivalent to the actually met in the drinking waters of some regions in this country heightened concentrations, its atherogenic effect is studied by indices: total cholesterol, beta-lipoproteins, phospholipid, lecithin, total lipids, total proteins, and hexoses of glycoprotein in blood serum; hydroxyproline, hexosamines, hexauronic acids and hexoses, connected with the proteins, in the aorta. A methodic approach is used for studying the atherogenic effect of vanadium on the processes of natural aging of the cardiovascular system. It is established that at chronic oral effect of the studied doses of vanadium no changes occur in the biochemical component of the connective tissue of the aorta and there are no infringements of the blood metabolism. In relation to the lipidic-only a decrease in the total cholesterol in the serum is established. The results show, that during the experiment vanadium causes no acceleration in the processes of natural aging of the blood vessels and has no atherogenic effect. Comparing the data for vanadium concentration in the drinking of Bulgaria to our results give grounds to reckon, that its heightened content in drinking waters of some regions presents no risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.