Abstract: To observe the effect of lycopene on vascular endothelial and fibrinolytic function in hyperhomocysteinemia rats.Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal diet group (C),methionine diet group (M),methionine diet and lycopene group (ML),with 10 rates in each group.The rats in C,M and ML groups were fed with normal diet,methionine diet,methionine diet,respectively.The methionine diet included 3% methionine.The rats in ML group were gavaged by lycopene with 6.25 mg/kg ig volume of 2 mL.The rats in C and M groups were given saline of same volume.All the experiment lasted 8 weeks.24 hours after the last experiment,the level of homocysteine,t-PA and PAI in blood or plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay.The level of TXB-2 and 6-Keto-PGF1α in plasma were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The results showed that after fed with 8-week methionine diet,rats had formed homocysteinemia.Compared with C group,plasma Hcy,TXB-2 and PAI in M group were notably increased (P<0.01).At the mean time, 6-Keto-PGF1α and t-PA were significantly decreased in M group (P<0.01).It indicated that the rats had happened vasomotor disorders and fibrinolytic activity disorders.After 8 weeks of lycopene supplement,compared with M group,plasma Hcy and TXB2 were significantly decreased in ML group (P<0.01),and 6-Keto-PGF1α were significantly increased in ML group (P<0.01).In addition,the rats in ML group had improved the activity of t-PA and PAI,the function of fibinolytic were enhanced to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic disease.

Key words: lycopene, rats, homocysteine, vascular endothelium, fibrinolytic function