Effect of Nicotine on Cholesterol-Induced Atherosclerosis in the Rabbit

Abstract

Nicotine was administered orally in three dosage levels to female rabbits fed a 1 per cent cholesterol, 5 per cent oil diet for 24 weeks. Serum cholesterol and phospholipid values and electrocardiograms, both with and without ergonovine stress, were obtained at eight week intervals. Gross and microaortic pathology and cardiac micropathology were determined at the end of the experiment. Serum cholesterol and phospholipid values and aortic atherosclerosis were not affected by the addition of nicotine. Mortality, the incidence of positive ergonovine stress tests, myocardial necrosis and fatty metamorphosis, and peripheral vascular changes were increased. A dose-response relationship could not be established for nicotine.