Abstract: Objective To study the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia on depression and atherosclerosis in rats. Method Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into model group and normal group (each n=10). The rat model was established by feeding L-methionine with gastric irrigation daily. After four, six and eight weeks, the total homocysteine (THcy) concentration in plasma and the immobility time of “forced-swimming test” in five minutes were respectively detected to reflect the situation of depression caused by HHcy. Eight weeks later, the change of atherosclerosis in lipid plaque coverage was detected in abdominal aorta intima. Result After six week's dosing, the concentrations in plasma of the model group (15.36±3.6 μmoL/L) were significantly higher than those in the normal group (11.38±1.78 μmoL/L, P<0.01). All the immobility times in 4 times “forced-swimming test” were prolonged and more significantly increasing (193.8±27.7 s) than the result of normal group (113.1±27.39 s) at end of sixth week (P<0.001). At same time, the percentage of lipid plaque coverage in abdominal aorta intima was significantly increased at the end of the test (the model group was 7.45%±3.99%, the normal group 4.05%±2.22%, P<0.05). Conclusion The plasma THcy concentration of model group was higher than that of normal group. The rats that had hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) were showed the depression and the atherosclerosis to a visible extent.

Key words: Hyperhomocysteinemia, Depression, Atherosclerosis, Rats