Abstract:Aim To investigate high quantity of total soy isoflavones influence adhesion molecule such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in aorta vessel during the formation of atherosclerosis in rats predisposed with high cholesterol and high fat diet. Methods 60 Wistar rats were divided in 6 groups randomly, rats of the normal diet control (NDC)group were fed with normal diet. Rats of the remainder groups were fed high cholesterol (3.5%), high fat (10%) and 1% hyocholic salt plus 85% normal diet. Rats of the high fat diet plus low (HLI group), medium (HMI group), high (HHI group) dose ISO groups were fed with high content of total isoflavones simultaneously and the dosage were 30 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg and 270 mg/kg body weights perday; rats of the high fat diet plus estrobene control (HEC) group was given estrobene 0.25 mg/kg body weights perday. After 20 week, rats were killed and aorta were taken. HE staining was used to study the pathology during the formation of atherosclerosis. Body weights and organ weight were detected to explore if there were physical impairmen when isoflavones were given to rats. Immunohistochemistry and Western-blotting were used to detect ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene expression in aorta vessel and computer image analysis was used to check the degree of gene expression about VCAM-1 or ICAM-1. Results Soy isoflaones can inhibits atherosclerotic plaque formation dose dependently, lower the high expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in aorta vessel caused by high cholesterol and high fat diet (Compared to B grouPp<0.05). Conclusion Soy isoflavones can inhibit expression of adhesion molecules genes such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1 in aortic of rats fed with high cholesterol and high fat diets.