Anti-Atherosclerotic Effects of Pioglitazon by Interference with Inflammatory and Stress Pathway in Male Rabbits

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death worldwide. It is now widely accepted that it is a chronic inflammatory process. Minor inflammation, increased oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation are all the important factors in the cancer pathogenesis. Pioglitazone is an oral diabetes medication that belongs to the thiazolidinedione’s pharmacological class, a medication that acts on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). Therefore, the PPAR activation prevented coronary artery disease as a result of pioglitazone, anti-inflammatory effects, and arteriosclerosis down-regulation of CCR2 in circulating monocytes. The aim of this research is to asses if pioglitazone can protect rabbits against atherosclerosis. Twenty-four domestic male rabbit were divided into three groups; Group I, normal control group (no = 8), Group II (no = 8): Rabbits fed a cholesterol diet (the induced untreated group). Group III (no = 8): 1% cholesterol l diet oral pioglitazone 3 mg/kg once day before breakfast. Animals fed an atherogenic diet had the lower levels of GSH, SOD, and higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerid, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, atherogenic index, iCAM, and intimal thickness compared with controls (P < 0.001). In comparison to the induced untreated group, pioglitazone has a significant impact on lipid parameters (P < 0.001). Pioglitazone significantly reduced the elevation in ICAM, and a mild effect on the aorta thickness compared with induced the untreated groups (p < 0.05). The drug resort the aortic GSH and SOD level (P < 0.001).