Atherogenesis. Preventive action of trifluoperazine.

This preliminary note describes the preventive action of trifluoperazine against cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Although this drug had no significant effect on the elevated levels of serum lipids induced by the atherogenic diet, it completely inhibited the initiation of atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits fed atherogenic diets. Based on these findings, we propose that calmodulin and protein kinase 'C' may play a key role in the development of the atherosclerotic process.