Effect of THD-341, a new hypocholesterolemic agent, on experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits

The influence of THD-341, N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-Δ 8-dihydroabietamide, upon the formation and regression of atherosclerosis and on serum and liver lipid levels has been studied. When rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 7 weeks, THD-341 added at a dietary level of 0.01% during the last 4 weeks almost completely prevented the formation of atherosclerotic lesions and the elevation of serum and liver cholesterol levels. When the drug was fed for 10 weeks, either in the normal or cholesterol diet, to rabbits with pre-established atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol feeding for 11 weeks, it did not affect the extent or severity of the lesions but inhibited the progression of lipid deposition in the aorta in a group fed the cholesterol diet during the final 10-weeks period. The reduction of serum and liver cholesterol levels was greater in the drug-treated groups than in the normal rabbit chow-fed group.