Abstract: | Studies were made of the effects of various classes of lipoproteins (LP) from the blood of rabbits with experimental hypercholesterolemia and human subjects with pronounced atherosclerosis on the vascular tone of rat thoracic aorta specimens. In hypercholesterolemia, there was a considerable weakening of a vasodilatory action of atherogenic LP fractions--LDL and VLDL. A vasodilatory effect of HDLP was not changed. In subjects suffering from atherosclerosis vasodilatory effects of both atherogenic and antiatherogenic HDLP decreased significantly. The revealed changes were related to shifts in lipid and protein components of LP complexes manifesting in the development of dyslipoproteinemia and dysapoproteinemia. In atherosclerosis accompanied with more profound changes suppression of vasodilatory effects of LP is greater than in transient experimental hypercholesterolemia. Consequently, changes of lipid and apo composition of LP and weakening of their vasodilatory action play a considerable role in the vessel tone changes in atherogenic situation. |