Abstract: Objecttive To study the expression of nitricoxide (NO) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in the animal modes of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis(AS) in order to investigate the relationship of hypercholesterolemia and AS and vascular endothelium function and ICAM-1. Methods The high-cholesterol diet fed rabbits to establish the models of hypercholesterolemia and AS, and the control group was normal diet; Blood was collected from vein in 0, 8 and 16 weeks in two groups, and the concentrations of TC, LDL, NO and ICAM-1 were measured; The correlation of TC, LDL and NO, ICAM-1 was observed; After 16 weeks, the rabbits were put to death, and immunohistochemistry analysis and RT-PCR were performed to measure the expression of ICAM-1 in the aortas. Results TC and LDL in 8 weeks were higher in the high-cholestrol diet group, but NO and ICAM-1 had no change; NO decreased and ICAM-1 increased in 16 weeks (P<0.01); TC and LDL were negatively correlated with NO and positively correlated with ICAM-1; The expression of ICAM-1 in the high-cholesterol diet group was higher than control group (P<0.01). Conclusions Hypercholesterolemia and AS lead to vascular endothelium disorder and abnormal expression of NO and ICAM-1; NO and ICAM-1 involve the information of AS.

Key words: atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, nitricoxide