EFFECT OF NICOTINE AND ACETALDEHYDE ON PLASMA CHOLESTEROL, HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS, AND PLASMA TRIGLYCERIDES IN RABBITS FED AN ATHEROGENIC DIET: IMPLICATIONS IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The objective of this study was to determine if nicotine and acetaldehyde have an effect on plasma cholesterol, plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride levels in rabbits fed a plain mash diet and those fed an atherogenic diet (2.0% cholesterol). Twenty-five New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five groups and treated for sixty-one days as follows: Group 1--plain mash diet (PM); Group 2--PM, nicotine (NIC), acetaldehyde (ACET); Group 3--atherogenic diet (AD); Group 4--AD NIC; Group 5--AD NIC ACET. The data show no significant effect of nicotine and acetaldehyde on plasma cholesterol, plasma HDL, plasma triglycerides, and the HDL/cholesterol ratio in either the PM or AD groups. The present study does not disclose any significant contribution of nicotine and acetaldehyde to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.