Slowed progression or elimination of atherosclerosis by low-frequency electrical impulses.

BACKGROUND

In our previous investigations we showed that electrical impulses (EI) can prevent the development of atherosclerosis if they began simultaneously with high cholesterol diet (HCD) or in the early stages of atherosclerosis (after three weeks of HCD only). In this investigation we demonstrated the slow progression or elimination of atherosclerosis by low-frequency EI in case of moderate atherosclerosis (after eight weeks of HCD).

METHODS

Series I rabbits (control group) were fed HCD for eight weeks. Series II rabbits were fed HCD for eight weeks and were then switched to normal diet for eight weeks (no EI). Series III rabbits were fed HCD for eight weeks and then switched to a normal diet with simultaneous EI (applied near the abdominal aorta) for eight weeks (3 V, 30 single impulses per minute, 24 hours/day). After euthanization, the level of atherosclerosis, percentage of surface area involved in the atherosclerosis process, and an atherosclerosis score were calculated in the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aorta.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were seen in the level of atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta between series III animals (0.4 +/- 0.2) and the other two groups: 1.5 +/- 0.4 in series I (HCD only), 1.2 +/- 0.3 in series II (HCD then normal diet). Gross examination of the surface also revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the percentage of atherosclerosis between the control series I (30.1 +/- 4.1%) and series II (21.3 +/- 3.6%), compared with series III (5.5 +/- 5.4%). In addition, the atherosclerosis score was also significantly different: 45.8 +/- 3.9 in series I, 25.2 +/- 6.9 in series II, and 2.2 +/- 2.0 in series III (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that, when applied near the abdominal aorta, low-frequency electrical impulses decrease atherosclerotic deposition in the abdominal aorta.