Objective: To study the effect of hypercholesterolemia on vascular and endothelial function in Wistar rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed 2 % cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Blood was drawn to determine the level of serum nitric oxide (NO) and plasma endothelin (ET); thoracic aorta was harvested for studies of vascular reactivity to phenylephrine (PE)
acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Results: There were no significant differences between NC and HC group in the level of serum NO and plasma ET ( P<0.05); responses (including the maximal responses) of the thoracic aorta to PE
Ach and SNP were not affected by 2% cholesterol diet. Conclusion: Vascular systolic function and diastolic function were not altered in hypercholesterole-mic rats.