Effects of low-dose pravastatin sodium on plasma cholesterol levels and aortic atherosclerosis of heterozygous WHHL rabbits fed a low cholesterol (0.03%) enriched diet for one year

Effects of pravastatin on cholesterol metabolism of cholesterol‐fed heterozygous WHHL rabbits

“…Increased hepatic LDL receptor activity in WHHL rabbits was considered to be the main cause of the reduction of plasma cholesterol levels by pravastatin treatment (Kume et al , 1989; Kuroda et al , 1992). The antiatherosclerotic effect by pravastatin treatment in our animal model has been shown previously (Harsch et al , 1997). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long‐term effects of treatment with pravastatin on cholesterol metabolism, determined by hepatic LDL receptor density and mRNA, as well as plasma levels of total cholesterol, lathosterol and campesterol.…”

“…Total plasma cholesterol levels in the pravastatin group were consistently lower, when compared to the control group (Figure 3). Data on total plasma cholesterol levels of individual animals have been described elsewhere (Harsch et al , 1997). After 12 months feeding of the cholesterol‐enriched diet, total plasma cholesterol levels and total cholesterol contents of liver tissue in the pravastatin group were lower by 51% ( P = 0.04) and 27% ( P = 0.03), respectively, than in the control group, whereas total plasma lathosterol and campesterol levels were not significantly different between the groups (Figure 4, Table 1).…”