Members of the immunoglobulin superfamily of endothelial adhesion molecules, 
vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and intercellular cell adhesion 
molecule (ICAM- 1), strongly participate in leukocyte adhesion to the 
endothelium and play an important role in all stages of atherogenesis. The aim 
of this study was to detect and quantify the changes of endothelial expression 
of VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in the vessel wall after the short-term administration of 
simvastatin, atorvastatin, and micro dispersed derivatives of oxidised cellulose 
(MDOC) in apolipoprotein-E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice atherosclerotic model. 
Hyperlipidemic apoE(-/-) mice (n = 32) received normal chow diet or diet 
containing simvastatin or atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day or MDOC 50 mg/kg/day. Total 
cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, HDL and TAG were measured and the endothelial expression 
of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was visualized and quantified by means of 
immunohistochemistry and stereology, respectively. Total cholesterol levels was 
insignificantly lowered only in MDOC treated mice but not in mice treated with 
statins. ICAM-1 endothelial expression was not affected by neither simvastatin 
nor MDOC treatment. However, significant diminution of VCAM-1 endothelial 
expression was observed in both atorvastatin and MDOC treated mice. These 
results provide new information of potential hypolipidemic substance MDOC and 
its potential anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, we have confirmed 
anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin independent of plasma cholesterol 
lowering. Thus, the results of this study show potential benefit of both MDOC 
and atorvastatin treatment in apoE(-/-) mouse model of atherosclerosis 
suggesting their possible combination might be of interest.