[Atherogenic properties of phenothiazine drugs manifesting in cultured cells of the human aortic intima].

The effects of phenothiazine drugs on the levels of cholesterol in smooth cells of the human aortic intima. Two antiarrhythmics (ethacizin and ethmozine) and two neuroleptics (trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine) were evaluated. The three agents ethacizin, trifluoperazine, and chlorpromazine given in concentrations of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M were ascertained to cause intracellular cholesterol accumulation, whereas ethmozine produced no effects on the intracellular levels of cholesterol. Ethacizin failed to cause cholesterol accumulation when the cells were incubated with ethacizin in the culture medium supplemented with lipid-deficient serum. Ethacizin in a concentration o 10(-5) M was shown to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol esters and had no action on the intracellular synthesis of steroids.