The effect of atorvastatine on expression of selected markers of vascular endothel

Atherosclerosis, or sclerosis of arteries, is a degenerative disease of arteries. Sometimes it is called "the disease of 20th century". ApoE/LDL - receptor double knockout mice represent a new animal model for study of atherogenesis, which is characterized by severe hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis. Statins (or competitive inhibitors 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzym A-reductase) currently belong to the most efficient and the most useful hypolipidemic drugs for all over the world. They decrease mainly levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The aim of this thesis was to describe the expression of eNOS in atherosclerotic plaques in apoE/LDLreceptor deficient mice. Moreover, we wanted to atorvastatin effects on its expression in the vessel wall. ApoE/LDLR-deficient mice on were subdivided into two groups. The control group of animals was fed with the cholesterol rich diet. The same cholesterol rich diet was used in ATV group, where atorvastatin was added to the atherogenic diet at the dosage of 50 mg/kg per day. The results of this thesis confirmed the expression eNOS in aortic endothelium in both control and atorvastatin treated mice. Atorvastatin treatment resulted in a strong hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effect. Stereological analysis demonstrated that atorvastatin..