OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level of the atherosclerosis rabbits.

METHODTwenty-four male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 8) was fed with normal diet; the model group (n = 8) was fed with high fat/high cholesterol diet; and Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group (n = 8) was fed with high fat/high cholesterol diet and intragastric administrated with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction 7.10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1). Concentrations of serum total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), serum ADMA and serum nitric oxide (NO) were measured after eight weeks. Rabbits' aorta were made into the pathological section to observe the pathology changes degree and atherosclerotic plaqu mean gray value and plaque area were analyzed by OPTIMAS image analysis system.

RESULT1) Compared with the aortic atherosclerotic plaqu mean gray value of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group 175.56 +/- 12.30, those of the model group 198.91 +/- 5.08 were significant higher (P < 0.01). Significant difference were found between the the aortic atherosclerotic plaque area of the model group (4.80 +/- 0.83) mm2 and Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group (1.96 +/- 0.48) mm2 (P < 0.01). There were no atherosclerotic plaque in the control group rabbits' aorta. 2) The serum TC (23.42 +/- 7.80) mmol x L(-1), TG (2.37 +/- 0.42) mmol x L(-1) and LDL (17.24 +/- 8.29) mmol x L(-1) of the model group were higher than those of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group (P < 0.01); Compared with control group, the serum TC (15.63 +/- 4.12) mmol x L(-1) and LDL (7.64 +/- 2.36) mmol x L(-1) of the Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group increased significantly, while there were no significant changes between serum TG of control group (1.11 +/- 0.26) mmol x L(-1) and serum TG of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group (1.43 +/- 0.34) mmol x L(-1). The serum ADMA of the model group (1.57 +/- 0.17) micromol x L(-1) were higher than those of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group (1.01 +/- 0.13) micromol x L(-1) (P < 0.01), while the serum NO of the model group (8.76 +/- 2.42) micromol x L(-1) were significantly lower than those of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group (15.90 +/- 2.38) micromol x L(-1) (P < 0.01). There were no significant difference between the serum ADMA of the control group (0.93 +/- 0.11) micromol x L(-1) and Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group. Compared with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction group, the serum NO of the control group (17.88 +/- 3.34) micromol x L(-1) have no significant difference. 3) The serum ADMA of all rabbits negatively correlated to the serum NO (r = -0.773), (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXuefu Zhuyu decoction can decrease the serum ADMA level in atherosclerosis rabbits. The effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on anti-atherosclerosis may be related to the decreased serum ADMA level.