An evaluation of the efficacy of antiatherosclerotic agents based on a study of the peripheral blood monocytes

: Examination of the effect of calcium antagonists on the functional activity of monocytes revealed the possibility of using these cells as an object for testing antiatherosclerotic agents. The functional activity of monocytes was evaluated by their capacity of producing thromboxane B2 and by the cellular content of cyclic AMP. It is suggested that calcium antagonists verapamil and niphedipin, in particular, are potential antiatherosclerotic agents.