目的 研究儿茶素对动脉粥样硬化的预防作用，并初步探讨其作用机制。方法 通过建立鹌鹑高脂食饵性动脉粥样硬化模型，观察儿茶素预防用药对血清及组织中脂质含量的影响，并对主动脉和肝脏进行肉眼和光镜组织学检查，检测儿茶素对血清总超氧化物歧化酶和脂质过氧化物丙二醛的影响。结果 连续用药8周后，与模型组相比，儿茶素各剂量组血清总胆固醇、三酰甘油、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平明显降低(P<0.05， P<0.01)，儿茶素中剂量组血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量明显升高( P<0.05)，儿茶素高剂量组和低剂量组血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇与模型组相比有上升趋势，但无显著差异(P>0.05)，肝脏、心肌及主动脉壁中的总胆固醇和三酰甘油含量显著下降(P<0.05， P<0.01)；病理检测结果发现，与模型组相比，儿茶素各剂量组主动脉内膜粥样硬化斑块的病变程度明显降低(P<0.05， P<0.01)，肝脏脂肪变分级标准明显低于模型组，肝脏系数也小于模型组（P<0.05， P<0.01），儿茶素可升高血清总超氧化物歧化酶的含量，降低脂质过氧化物丙二醛的含量（P<0.05， P<0.01）。结论 儿茶素可有效预防动脉粥样硬化的发生，其作用机制与其降脂和抗氧化作用有关。

OBJECTIVE To study the effect and mechanism of catechin on experimental atherosclerosis in quails. METHODS Atherosclerosis model in quail was established by high fat diet. The serum and tissue lipid contents were detected with enzyme method. The atherosclerotic plaque lesion of aorta was observed by naked eyes and under light microscope. The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondiadehyde (MDA) in quail were observed with microcontent fast detecting method. RESULTS After eight weeks continuous administration， the serum levels of triglyceride(TG)， total cholesterol(TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P<0.05， P<0.01) were decreased in all catechin groups， the serum level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased in middle dose catechin group (P<0.05) compared with model group， while the serum levels of HDL-C in high and low dose catechin group showed trend of increase (P>0.05). At the same time， TC and TG in the liver， myocardial and aortic wall and the degree of atherosclerotic lesion in aorta and fatty degeneration of liver in catechin groups were reduced (P<0.05， P<0.01)， the level of the serum SOD was increased while MDA level was reduced (P<0.05， P<0.01). CONCLUSION Catechin can prevent atherosclerotic lesion probably through decreasing blood lipid level and antioxidation.