MINORITY SCHOOL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARD

本研究的主要目的是评估超- 张力对动脉粥样硬化的发展，在两个不同的 动脉床，颈动脉和主动脉，并确定 这两个床的响应的相似性或差异， 用钙阻断剂硝苯地平进行干预。 的 待检验假设是， 高血压动物以显著更高的速率发展， 与主动脉粥样硬化相比更不易消退。 白色白鸽，年龄6-12个月，雌雄不限，来自 遗传选择的高血压（n=91）和低血压（n=91） 线将被研究。 每一行的鸟将被分为 四组，并将喂食致动脉粥样硬化或对照饮食。 两组鸽子也将被喂食硝苯地平沿着 致动脉粥样硬化饮食 血压体重血浆胆固醇 血钙和血浆脂蛋白浓度将 在研究期间的最初、3个月和10个月时测量。 后 10个月后，将对鸽子分组进行检查， 动脉粥样硬化 剩下的鸽子将从 并分为三个亚组。 在任何 动脉粥样硬化消退阶段，对照饮食，有或没有 硝苯地平将再喂饲10个月。 鸟儿会 处死并通过视觉检查评价动脉粥样硬化， 总动脉胆固醇、钙、胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白 浓度的 将检查组织切片，以支持 生物化学研究。 该项目的意义在于 更好地了解高血压在 主动脉和颈动脉粥样硬化的发展， 这两个动脉床对饮食干预的反应， 钙通道阻滞剂硝苯地平的作用。

The major goal of the present study is to assess the role of hyper- tension on the development of atherosclerosis in two different arterial beds, the carotid artery and aorta, and to determine similarities or differences in the responses of these two beds to intervention with the calcium blocking agent, nifedipine. The hypothesis to be tested is that carotid artery atherosclerosis in hypertensive animals develops at a significantly greater rate and is less subject to regression compared to aortic atherosclerosis. White Carneau pigeons, aged 6-12 months and of either sex, from genetically selected high (n=91) and low (n=91) blood pressure lines will be studied. The birds in each line will be divided into four groups and will be fed either an atherogenic or control diet. Two groups of pigeons will also be fed nifedipine along with the atherogenic diet. Blood pressure, body weight, plasma cholesterol, blood calcium and plasma lipoprotein concentrations will be measured initially, and at 3 and 10 months during the study. After 10 months, subgroups of pigeons will be examined to assess atherosclerosis. The remaining pigeons will be removed from the atherogenic diet and divided into three subgroups. During any atherosclerosis regression phase, a control diet with or without nifedipine will be fed for an additional 10 months. The birds will be sacrificed and atherosclerosis evaluated by visual examination, total arterial cholesterol, calcium, collagen and elastin concentrations. Histologic sections will be examined to support the biochemical studies. The significance of the project lies in a better understanding of the role of hypertension in atherosclerosis development in aorta and carotid artery and the response of these two arterial beds to dietary intervention and the effect of the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine.