State of the microcirculation during long-term regression of the early stages of atherosclerosis

The antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene prevents early cholesterol-induced microcirculatory changes in rabbits.

“…Aggregation was classified into the following four groups: (1) no aggregation; (2) occasional presence of aggregates in the small microvessels with a diameter < 20 ,um; (3) aggregates in up to 50% ofthe microvessels with a diameter < 30 Am; and (4) aggregation in > 50% of the microvessels with a diameter < 30 Am.…”

“…There are relatively few published studies on cholesterol-induced changes in the microcirculation (1)(2)(3)(4), and the mechanism behind these changes has not been completely clarified. However, it has been reported that hypercholesterolemia modifies the macromolecular leakage from postcapillary venules in response to serotonin (1).…”