Prevention of atherosclerosis in sub-human primates by chondroitin sulfate A

Sixty-five squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciurea ) were studied for a year. During the last 9 months, spontaneously occurring atherosclerosis was accelerated by feeding a diet containing cholesterol and butter. Of six separate groups of animals, three groups were examined for the effects of acid mucopolysaccharides on the process of atherosclerosis. Monkeys treated with parenteral chondroitin sulfate A and fed the cholesterol-butter diet showed statistically significant reductions of serum total lipid levels and aorta lipid levels when compared to control groups on the cholesterol-butter diets. Macroscopic comparison of aortic atherosclerosis showed chondroitin sulfate A-treated animals to have the least atherosclerotic involvement. The acid mucopolysaccharide chondroitin sulfate A may be an effective preventive agent in the treatment of experimentally induced atherosclerosis.