To examine the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the aorta endothelial cells in rats with high lipid diet.

Eighteen Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: high lipids group, PDTC and high lipid group(PDTC group) and normal control group. The aortas were harvested for histomorphometry and transmission electron microscope 12 weeks after the induction of high plasma lipid. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity was measured by use of electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) in aortas. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum were measured by use of radio-immunity and the level of soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) in serum was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

There was obvious necrosis or apoptosis for aorta endothelial cells in high lipids group, but this phenomenon was not clear in PDTC group. The level of sTM in the PDTC group was significantly higher than that of normal control group and lower than that of high lipids group (P<0.05). The activity of NF-κB and the levels of IL-6, TNF-α were evidently higher in high lipids group than normal control group and PDTC group. There was a positive relation between the NF-κB activity and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and sTM (P<0.05).

PDTC can protect aorta endothelial cells by inhibiting the activity of NF-κB and the inflammatory response in rats with high lipid diet.