Abstract
Background and Objectives: During recent years many factors has increased the nonepidemic diseases including cardiovascular ones. Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases. Some researchers suggested that calcium channel blockers can slowdown the process of atherosclerosis
Materials and Methods: Thirty six male Newsland white rabbits were divided into four groups: The normal control group, normal group receiving amlodipine, high-cholesterol diet group and high-cholesterol diet with amlodipine group. After 8 weeks all animals anesthetized and blood and tissues samples were colleted.
Results: Amlodipine consumption in eight weeks reduced significantly (P<0.01) plasma endothelin-1 levels in both of high-cholesterol diet plus amlodipine and amlodipine groups. Amlodipine consumption caused significant reduction (P<0/01) in the level of endothelin-1 in heart tissue of high-cholesterol diet plus amlodipine group but did no effect on reduction of heart tissue endothelin-1 in amlodipine group.
Conclusion: High-cholesterol diet caused enhancing of plasma and heart tissue endothelin-1 and amlodipine reduced plasma and tissue endothelin-1 levels in high-cholesterol diet group. In conclusion amlodipine treatment could have positive effects in pathology of heart diseases.