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

<p>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.</p>