Objective:To explore the roles of persistent systemic inflammation in atherosclerosis and the effects of saponins of Panax Notoginseng(PNS)on this process in rabbits.Methods:Thirty rabbits were divided randomly and equally into 6 groups,i.e.,control,high-fat diet,inflammation,aspirin,PNS and simple-inflammation group.All the animals except that in control group and simple-inflammation group were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks.Based on that, rabbits in inflammation,aspirin and PNS groups were treated with zymosan injection(10 mg/kg,i.p.).Normal saline was given to rabbits in control group.Besides zymosan injection,animals in aspirin and PNS group were administrated with aspirin(12 mg/kg,i.g.)and PNS(120 mg/kg,i.g.)respectively.The animals in simple-inflammation group were treated with zymosan injection(10mg/kg,i.p.)and fed with normal diet.The atherosclerosis lesion in aortas was observed by SudanⅣstaining.Serum total cholesterol,triglyceride(TG),TNF-αand activity of post-heparin lipoprotein lipase(LPL)were measured at the end of the 4th and 8th week after an overnight fast.Results:Compared with high-fat diet group,the area of atherosclerosis lesion,serum TG and TNF-αwere markedly increased in rabbits of inflammation group,and the activity of LPL was decreased remarkably.Serum TNF-αlevel was negatively correlated with the activity of post-heparin LPL(r=-0.708,P<0.01).The area of atherosclerosis,serum TG and TNF-αwere decreased in aspirin and PNS group compared with that in inflammation group,and the activity of LPL was increased remarkably.Compared with control group,serum TG and TNF-αwere markedly increased in simple-inflammation group,while LPL activity was decreased.Atherosclerotic lesion did not occur in simple-inflammation group. Conclusion:Persistent systemic inflammation could accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis lesion in aortas,which partly depend on the decreasing of the activity of post-heparin lipoprotein lipase.PNS could improve the changes caused by inflammation. Objective: To explore the roles of persistent systemic inflammation in atherosclerosis and the effects of saponins of Panax Notoginseng(PNS) on this process in rabbits.Methods:Thirty rabbits were divided randomly and equally into 6 groups,ie,control,high-fat diet ,inflammation,aspirin,PNS and simple-inflammation group.All the animals except that in control group and simple-inflammation group were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks.Based on that, rabbits in inflammation, aspirin and PNS groups were treated With zymosan injection(10 mg/kg,ip).Normal saline was given to rabbits in control group.Besides zymosan injection,animals in aspirin and PNS group were administrated with aspirin(12 mg/kg,ig)and PNS(120 mg/ Kg,ig)respectively.The animals in simple-inflammation group were treated with zymosan injection(10mg/kg,ip)and fed with normal diet.The atherosclerosis lesion in aortas was looked by SudanIVstaining.Serum total cholesterol,triglyceride(TG), TNF-αand activity of post-heparin Lipoprotein lipase(LPL) were measured at the end of the 4th and 8th week after an overnight fast.Results:Compared with high-fat diet group,the area of ​​atherosclerosis lesion,serum TG and TNF-αwere markedly increased in rabbits of inflammation group ,and the activity of LPL was decreased remarkably.Serum TNF-αlevel was negatively correlated with the activity of post-heparin LPL(r=-0.708,P〈0.01).The area of ​​atherosclerosis,serum TG and TNF-αwere decreased in aspirin And PNS group compared with that in inflammation group,and the activity of LPL was increased remarkably.Compared with control group,serum TG and TNF-αwe marked markedly increased in simple-inflammation group,while LPL activity was decreased.Atherosclerotic lesion did not occur in Simple-inflammation group.Conclusion:Persistent systemic inflammation could accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis lesion in aortas,which depends on the decreasing of the activity of post-heparin lipoprotein lipase.PNS could improve the cha Nges caUsed by inflammation.