The atorvastatin effect on endoglin expression in atherosclerotic plaques.

Atherosclerosis is an inconspicuously spreading disease which could cause serious ill effects due to them it is ranked among the most frequent causes of death in the technologically advanced world. Statins are the most important and the most used lipid-lowering drugs nowadays. Thanks to their lipid and non-lipid effects they demonstrably lower the morbidity and mortality by affecting the atherosclerotic process. The aim of this diploma thesis was to determine and describe the expression of endoglin in atherosclerotic plaques in apoE/LDL-receptor deficient mice. Moreover the endothelial expression of endoglin in the aortic root was quantified by means of immunohistochemistry and stereological methods. We used apoE/LDL-receptor double deficient mice which is widely used animal model for the atherosclerotic research. ApoE/LDLr-deficient mice were subdivided into 2 groups. The control group of animals was fed with the western type diet. The same atherogenic diet was used in ATV group, where atorvastatin was added to the atherogenic diet at the dosage of 100 mg/kg per day. The biochemical blood analysis of ApoE/LDLr-deficient mice manifested that the 8- week administration of atorvastatin significantly reduced the level of cholesterol and triacylglycerols. The immunohistochemical analysis showed the..