TY - JOUR
T1 - Atherosclerosis in the hypercholesterolemic hare. Comparison of coronary artery lesions induced by dietary cholesterol in the hare and the rabbit
AU - Pearson, Thomas A.
AU - Malmros, Haqvin
AU - Dillman, John
AU - Sternby, Nils
AU - Heptinstall, Robert H.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (HL-18473). Dr. Pearson is a recipient of a Preventive Cardiology Academic Award (K07-HL01113).
Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1987/2
Y1 - 1987/2
N2 - Atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries were compared to 10 hybrid hares and 14 rabbits after induction of hypercholesterolemia, using a cholesterol-enriched diet. All proximal portions of hare coronary arteries contained intimal lesions, often with severe luminal stenosis. These lesions were characterized by the presence of foam cells, smooth muscle cells, and areas of atheronecrosis. Foam cells were also found focally in the media. As part of the intimal changes, iron deposition was present in 65% and calcification was present in 32.5% of proximal segments examined. The proportion of segments with intimal lesions and the intima/media cross-sectional area ratios (I/M ratios) were greatest in proximal segments with stepwise decreases in the mid and distal segments. As area of myocardial infarction was present in one hare. In contrast, 46.5% of proximal segments of rabbit coronary arteries had no intimal lesions and those lesions present had no calcium or iron deposition. No infarction was observed in rabbit hearts. The proportion of segments with lesions and the mean I/M ratios were significantly greater in the hare than the rabbit, with proximal and mid coronary segments showing the most marked differences. The hare appears to develop coronary artery lesions more like those seen in man, with high grade, proximal stenoses occurring uniformly in hypercholesterolemic animals. In contrast, the atherosclerosis developing in rabbit coronary arteries is less uniform and includes involvement of intramyocardial arterioles. The hare offers several advantages as a model of human atherosclerosis.
AB - Atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries were compared to 10 hybrid hares and 14 rabbits after induction of hypercholesterolemia, using a cholesterol-enriched diet. All proximal portions of hare coronary arteries contained intimal lesions, often with severe luminal stenosis. These lesions were characterized by the presence of foam cells, smooth muscle cells, and areas of atheronecrosis. Foam cells were also found focally in the media. As part of the intimal changes, iron deposition was present in 65% and calcification was present in 32.5% of proximal segments examined. The proportion of segments with intimal lesions and the intima/media cross-sectional area ratios (I/M ratios) were greatest in proximal segments with stepwise decreases in the mid and distal segments. As area of myocardial infarction was present in one hare. In contrast, 46.5% of proximal segments of rabbit coronary arteries had no intimal lesions and those lesions present had no calcium or iron deposition. No infarction was observed in rabbit hearts. The proportion of segments with lesions and the mean I/M ratios were significantly greater in the hare than the rabbit, with proximal and mid coronary segments showing the most marked differences. The hare appears to develop coronary artery lesions more like those seen in man, with high grade, proximal stenoses occurring uniformly in hypercholesterolemic animals. In contrast, the atherosclerosis developing in rabbit coronary arteries is less uniform and includes involvement of intramyocardial arterioles. The hare offers several advantages as a model of human atherosclerosis.
KW - Coronary atherosclerosis
KW - Hares
KW - Hypercholesterolemia
KW - Rabbits
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0023103801&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0023103801&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0021-9150(87)90112-2
DO - 10.1016/0021-9150(87)90112-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 3827977
AN - SCOPUS:0023103801
VL - 63
SP - 125
EP - 135
JO - Atherosclerosis
JF - Atherosclerosis
SN - 0021-9150
IS - 2-3
ER -