INHIBITION OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND MYOCARDIAL LESIONS IN THE JCR-LA-CP RAT BY BETA,BETA'-TETRAMETHYLHEXADECANEDIOIC ACID (MEDICA-16)

Atherosclerosis-prone, insulin-resistant JCR:LA-cp male rats were treated from 6 weeks to 39 weeks of age with beta,beta'-tetramethylhexadecanedioic acid (MEDICA 16). Body weights were reduced (13%, P<.001) at 36 weeks without any accompanying decrease in food consumption. The treatment did not cause any significant change in plasma glucose or fasting insulin concentrations. There was a significant decrease in the extreme hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans (38%, P<.05). The marked VLDL hypertriglyceridemia was decreased by 70% (P<.001), with an accompanying significant reduction in cholesterol concentrations. The severity of raised treatment of an animal model for the obesity/insulin-resistant/hyperlipidemic syndrome not only markedly improved lipid metabolism, but also inhibited the development of advanced cardiovascular disease.