Vasoprotective effect of vitamin E: Rescue of ethanol-induced atherosclerosis and inflammatory stress in rat vascular wall

Chronic ethanol consumption increases the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms underlying
ethanol-induced susceptibility to cardiovascular disease continue to be defined. This study examines the hypothesis
that chronic ethanol consumption plausibly induces vascularwall abnormalities via inflammatory reactions. In
addition, it intends to find out whether vitamin E inhibits the abnormalities induced by ethanol in rats' vascular
wall. Twenty four maleWistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 8): Control ©, ethanol (E), and vitamin
E treated ethanol (VETE) group. After 6 weeks, the aortic and coronary wall changes, vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF), alpha-1 glycoprotein and haptoglobin amounts in plasma, C-reactive protein levels(CRP), as well as
the amount of aortic IL-6 were evaluated. The results revealed the elevation of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte
in the vascular wall, disorganization of endothelium with ballooning of cells, proliferation of vasa-vasorum
with an increase in the IL-6, CRP, as well as a decrease in VEGF and an increase in alpha-1 glycoprotein and haptoglobin
in the ethanol group compared to the control group. Significant amelioration of aortic and coronary wall
changes, along with the restoration of elevated level of IL6, CRP, and the decreased level of VEGF compared to
that of the controls were found in vitamin E-treated animals. These findings strongly support the idea that
heavy and chronic ethanol consumption initiates atherosclerosis by inflammatory stress, and that these effects
can be alleviated by vitamin E as an anti-inflammatory agent